Comments on: Just When You Thought Americans Were Distracted Drivers http://ecomodder.com/blog/thought-americans-distracted-drivers/ Wrench smart - driver smarter - save fuel Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:05:18 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Benjamin Jones http://ecomodder.com/blog/thought-americans-distracted-drivers/comment-page-1/#comment-4382 Benjamin Jones Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:45:36 +0000 http://ecomodder.com/blog/?p=1418#comment-4382 That is what I would think on first pass, but in fact, the laws here tend to be much stricter about such things and I have never seen anyone idling just to watch TV. Usually if you are parked and idling it is to eat or sleep. I will try to track someone down who knows. That is what I would think on first pass, but in fact, the laws here tend to be much stricter about such things and I have never seen anyone idling just to watch TV. Usually if you are parked and idling it is to eat or sleep. I will try to track someone down who knows.

]]> By: IanGun http://ecomodder.com/blog/thought-americans-distracted-drivers/comment-page-1/#comment-4381 IanGun Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:42:32 +0000 http://ecomodder.com/blog/?p=1418#comment-4381 That's a good question. Maybe their "idling culture" overrides their sense of the safety issue and their laws follow. That’s a good question. Maybe their “idling culture” overrides their sense of the safety issue and their laws follow.

]]> By: Benjamin Jones http://ecomodder.com/blog/thought-americans-distracted-drivers/comment-page-1/#comment-4380 Benjamin Jones Wed, 24 Jun 2009 02:31:45 +0000 http://ecomodder.com/blog/?p=1418#comment-4380 Hi Ian, Thanks for the comment. I wonder why the Japanese counterparts do not have such controls to turn them off while driving. Perhaps I will ask at a dealership sometime soon. Hi Ian,

Thanks for the comment. I wonder why the Japanese counterparts do not have such controls to turn them off while driving. Perhaps I will ask at a dealership sometime soon.

]]> By: IanG http://ecomodder.com/blog/thought-americans-distracted-drivers/comment-page-1/#comment-4379 IanG Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:15:10 +0000 http://ecomodder.com/blog/?p=1418#comment-4379 As a professional driver and avid cyclist, I know exactly what you mean when you say we need less distractions in the car to keep people safe. With that said, I am actually installing one of these systems in my car right now. I picked up an in-dash DVD/Video player and it is sitting on my desk, waiting for me to install it later this week. A couple of things. Drivers should not be using this to watch movies while they drive, or even while they sit in traffic. In many states it is actually illegal to have a video screen operating in view of the driver. As such, all of these devices have a link that forces the driver to be in "Park" with the brake on before video will show on the screen.... which can be easily overridden by the installation of a special module or switch by those technically adept. Why am I installing this device? More and more feedback is possible between your car, your environment and you these days. Mapping systems, fuel economy information, in-car computing, even rear-view cameras; all are making their way into the cockpit of our cars. Previous systems like your old radio were designed to be operated by touch, you didn't have to look at the controls to operate them. These new devices have more information to relay, but have yet to evolve to the point where you don't have to look at them to get the information yet. Squinting at tiny screens while fiddling with little buttons on your TomTom trying to find a parts store is a sure recipe for disaster. I'm putting one in because my wife watches Diggnation podcasts when we go on road trips, and the ability to add other video inputs in the future is appealing to me. As a professional driver and avid cyclist, I know exactly what you mean when you say we need less distractions in the car to keep people safe. With that said, I am actually installing one of these systems in my car right now. I picked up an in-dash DVD/Video player and it is sitting on my desk, waiting for me to install it later this week.

A couple of things. Drivers should not be using this to watch movies while they drive, or even while they sit in traffic. In many states it is actually illegal to have a video screen operating in view of the driver. As such, all of these devices have a link that forces the driver to be in “Park” with the brake on before video will show on the screen…. which can be easily overridden by the installation of a special module or switch by those technically adept.

Why am I installing this device? More and more feedback is possible between your car, your environment and you these days. Mapping systems, fuel economy information, in-car computing, even rear-view cameras; all are making their way into the cockpit of our cars. Previous systems like your old radio were designed to be operated by touch, you didn’t have to look at the controls to operate them. These new devices have more information to relay, but have yet to evolve to the point where you don’t have to look at them to get the information yet. Squinting at tiny screens while fiddling with little buttons on your TomTom trying to find a parts store is a sure recipe for disaster.

I’m putting one in because my wife watches Diggnation podcasts when we go on road trips, and the ability to add other video inputs in the future is appealing to me.

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