02-22-2006, 05:00 PM
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Developer & Designer, News Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,959
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Is GPS Navigation a Dangerous Distraction?
"A British auto insurance company said on Tuesday that in-car GPS navigation systems might be doing more harm than good by distracting drivers. Even more surprising, the company's findings suggest that navigation systems could be more disruptive than trying to read a map at the wheel... Possibly to blame is the fact that one in ten drivers with navigation systems do not input a route before leaving. Furthermore, half of those drivers admit that they have actually attempted to enter a route while driving. Nearly one in eight say they rely solely on GPS to get to their destination without checking the route first. While the technology for the most part is accurate, occasionally there are mistakes that could put the driver in danger, such as driving the wrong way on a one-way street."
We're starting to see more GPS-equipped Pocket PCs in the market - primarily due to a decrease in production costs and an increase in consumer demand. Now, more than ever, we're using our mobile devices (and other in-car navigation systems) to help us get from A to B. But just how safe is it? A recent report by Privilege Insurance (a British insurance company) suggests that GPS navigation is actually more of a distraction than a helping hand. What do you think?
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02-22-2006, 05:10 PM
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Contributing Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,389
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It is a lot safer for me. Of course I always enter my route before driving, often even before i get in the car. 
i-guidance (and i'm sure others) will actually run through a virtual trip for you if you want to test it.
I don't have to look at the map or b**ch at my navigator for missing a turn. Much safer for everyone involved.
If a stop over is needed I pull over or have a passenger look up where the nearest mcdonalds is located. 
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02-22-2006, 05:31 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 14
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Maybe there should have been a third question: "do you find it occasionally distracting" rather than "dangerously distracting". Because yes, I do occasionally look at it when I should be looking at the road. However, when things get really busy I just listen to the voice prompts and look outside where I should be looking.
Entering destinations while driving is of course dumb. :roll:
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02-22-2006, 05:41 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,162
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Anything that is a distraction while driving is a dangerous distraction.
A beautiful woman walking down the street can be also. I've met people who have gotten into accidents because them and/or others were distracted by one such woman.
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02-22-2006, 05:53 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 109
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jason Lee
It is a lot safer for me. Of course I always enter my route before driving, often even before i get in the car.
i-guidance (and i'm sure others) will actually run through a virtual trip for you if you want to test it.
I don't have to look at the map or b**ch at my navigator for missing a turn. Much safer for everyone involved.
If a stop over is needed I pull over or have a passenger look up where the nearest mcdonalds is located. |
Unfortunately the virtual trip mode in iGuidance runs only in real time at a speed of 55 Mph with no way to speed that up. It's really only of limited usefullness.
As for GPS's being distracting it's all relative to the myriad of other distractions you normally have while driving -- passengers, music, weather conditions, etc. Your success in dealing with these depends on your ability to tune out unimportant infomation and unconsciously prioritize which information is important, and also your ability to multitask.
Not everyone is good at doing this -- hence the reason why laws need to be created to protect those who are unable to recognize that they aren't as capable as others. <-- I know the above sounds condescending, but at least it's honest. It's basically 'Warning: Coffee is Hot' legislation.
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02-22-2006, 07:02 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 93
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i voted that GPS is NOT a dangerous distraction because i never used one in my life.
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02-22-2006, 07:32 PM
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Editorial Contributor
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 5,411
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Not only no, but heck no. Of course you can make it be a distraction if you wish, as can the burger in your face, the sports event on the radio, or the map held to the steering wheel. Given that you can input the destination in, it should be no more distracting than having a co-pilot giving you directions from the pasenger seat. The Nav is likely better at finding a new route if you miss a turn as well. Glancing at the PPC in the cradle, should be significantly less distracting than picking up the map from the passenger seat, figuring out where I am on it and trying to figure out what's next.
Wish they would quite legislating for things I might do. Lets concentrate on suitable consequences for things I actually screw up. Driving while distracted shouldn't be an issue. Causing an accident, while driving distracted is a different matter.
__________________
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02-22-2006, 08:10 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,183
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Just because some people think they can use GPS and not be distracted from their driving, that does not mean GPS (or a phone, or a nagging wife or a pretty bottom) is NOT a dangerous distraction. Anything that takes your attention away from the road is a potential hazzard.
Of course there is also the "my driving is good, it's everyone else who is a problem on the road" syndrome ... :-)
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02-22-2006, 09:17 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,386
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Man, I am dreading the sure-to-come legislation that will eventually rise up in an effort make driving safer... similar to what's been slowly happening with the use of cellphones.
Of course, anything that takes your attention away from the road is a potential hazard and because there will always be people that don't abide by the safety guidelines that every vendor attempts to define for this type of device, there will likely be laws in the future that will impact how we use GPS today.
That said, I love my GPS device and now cannot imagine driving without it. GPS devices are not ubiquitous yet but they eventually will be IMO. Once that happens, it's probably only a matter of time I think before people start getting as passionate about cellphone use as they do about GPS use in a car.
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02-23-2006, 02:01 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 29
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I've found it dangerously distracting on occasion. However this is due to my Ipaq being a piece of the proverbial. Each time the damn thing locks up or crashes then having to do a soft reboot, activate bluetooth, fire up Oziexplorer then link up to the GPS again.
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