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Google Maps and Waze

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Re: Google Maps and Waze

#61

Post by mililani »

lpolovets wrote: post #18

What do others think about the safety of using Waze? One thing that I have noticed is that the app encourages me to interact with it as I'm driving in order to add data to the system. It's a little hypocritical of me to complain about this because sometimes I text or check email while driving, which I know I should not do, but it still feels weird that Waze actually encourages me to read the screen and interact with…

Definitely. I was using Waze just the other day on a trip with my wife down to Los Angeles. Fortunately, I was the passenger and guiding my wife through traffic. Two things struck me about Waze:

1) It requires a lot of attention to use. 2) It's not that accurate. I mean, I figured it would be collecting data from Waze users and marking the roads with heavy traffic. But, that wasn't really the case. It DID mark some roads with traffic, but it wasn't accurate at all. Most of the accuracy came from people self reporting traffic data, and that was a cumbersome task. I don't recommend people doing it while driving.

Re: Google Maps and Waze

#62

Post by fjabre »

amalcon wrote: post #26
lpolovets wrote: post #18

What do others think about the safety of using Waze? One thing that I have noticed is that the app encourages me to interact with it as I'm driving in order to add data to the system. It's a little hypocritical of me to complain about this because sometimes I text or check email while driving, which I know I should not do, but it still feels weird that Waze actually encourages me to read the screen and interact with…

sometimes I text or check email while driving, which I know I should not do I don't mean to pick on you here. You are clearly aware, but it still needs to be said: Please do not email, text, or even talk on a cell phone while driving. Driving is the most dangerous task that is socially acceptable for nonprofessionals to perform. It is very irresponsible to make such a task any more difficult than it needs to be.

Preach all you want. Pass all the laws you want. People will do this because they can and they want to. The only real way to mitigate it is through innovation. Not by telling adults on the internet what they can and cannot do or by passing draconian laws telling people when they are allowed to communicate.

Re: Google Maps and Waze

#63

Post by samstave »

bostonpete wrote: post #51
bengoodger wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IMO only when this is treated like DUI will it be taken more seriously. It sounds radical, but the activity is easily avoidable, seriously diminishes your focus and can have horrible consequences.

DUI can be accurately tested with a breathalyzer. How would you expect these stiffer penalties to be enforced? I believe the current laws essentially require the offense to be directly observed by police or for the driver to inadvertently admit to it.

What if your car had a slot into which you were required to insert your phone in order to operate the vehicle.

Re: Google Maps and Waze

#65

Post by bbatchelder »

amalcon wrote: post #26
lpolovets wrote: post #18

What do others think about the safety of using Waze? One thing that I have noticed is that the app encourages me to interact with it as I'm driving in order to add data to the system. It's a little hypocritical of me to complain about this because sometimes I text or check email while driving, which I know I should not do, but it still feels weird that Waze actually encourages me to read the screen and interact with…

sometimes I text or check email while driving, which I know I should not do I don't mean to pick on you here. You are clearly aware, but it still needs to be said: Please do not email, text, or even talk on a cell phone while driving. Driving is the most dangerous task that is socially acceptable for nonprofessionals to perform. It is very irresponsible to make such a task any more difficult than it needs to be.

What about listening to the radio, talking to a passenger, or just zoning out and daydreaming?

These can all be just as dangerous as using a phone while driving.

Re: Google Maps and Waze

#66

Post by bbatchelder »

samstave wrote: post #63
bostonpete wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

DUI can be accurately tested with a breathalyzer. How would you expect these stiffer penalties to be enforced? I believe the current laws essentially require the offense to be directly observed by police or for the driver to inadvertently admit to it.

What if your car had a slot into which you were required to insert your phone in order to operate the vehicle.

What do you do when your phone is lost or stolen (or broken)?

Re: Google Maps and Waze

#69

Post by return0 »

lpolovets wrote: post #18

What do others think about the safety of using Waze? One thing that I have noticed is that the app encourages me to interact with it as I'm driving in order to add data to the system. It's a little hypocritical of me to complain about this because sometimes I text or check email while driving, which I know I should not do, but it still feels weird that Waze actually encourages me to read the screen and interact with…

Maybe it will be integrated with the upcoming Google Dashboard(tm)

Re: Google Maps and Waze

#70

Post by ja27 »

Florin_Andrei wrote: post #60
smackfu wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've seen icons for chain restaurants show up on the map. Is that what you mean?

I get ads from Taco Bell on my Waze.

That's all the ads I get. I can't wait until there are ads from everyone. Then I'll stop using it.
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