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California Court Bans Checking Smartphone Maps While Driving

techcrunch.com

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Re: California Court Bans Checking Smartphone Maps While Driving

#11

Post by Cushman »

kevingadd wrote: post #2

Are paper maps illegal too? What about having someone in the passenger seat check the map and then tell me what to do? Can they hold the phone in front of my face for me so I can see the map? I honestly just wish they'd settle for a simple, concrete description of what's acceptable while driving and what isn't. Like, you must always keep your eyes on the road, or you must always have both hands on the wheel, or whate…

Don't worry, the days of this sort of thing are numbered.

There is exactly one way it is acceptable to operate a motor vehicle: Input a destination for the computer to drive to, and release the controls. Anything less is a tragedy that hasn't happened yet.

Re: California Court Bans Checking Smartphone Maps While Driving

#13

Post by charonn0 »

kevingadd wrote: post #2

Are paper maps illegal too? What about having someone in the passenger seat check the map and then tell me what to do? Can they hold the phone in front of my face for me so I can see the map? I honestly just wish they'd settle for a simple, concrete description of what's acceptable while driving and what isn't. Like, you must always keep your eyes on the road, or you must always have both hands on the wheel, or whate…

> I honestly just wish they'd settle for a simple, concrete description of what's acceptable while driving and what isn't

It is unacceptable to divide your attention when hurtling down the road in a ton and a half of steel.

Re: California Court Bans Checking Smartphone Maps While Driving

#14

Post by hkmurakami »

kevingadd wrote: post #2

Are paper maps illegal too? What about having someone in the passenger seat check the map and then tell me what to do? Can they hold the phone in front of my face for me so I can see the map? I honestly just wish they'd settle for a simple, concrete description of what's acceptable while driving and what isn't. Like, you must always keep your eyes on the road, or you must always have both hands on the wheel, or whate…

I read big physical books in the car, while driving, when at a red light. I wonder if I'll get a ticket for this.

Re: California Court Bans Checking Smartphone Maps While Driving

#15

Post by hkmurakami »

radley wrote: post #12

It appears the issue is around "hands-free use", so it appears maps are still fine if you use a dash dock.

Thanks. This is what I was looking for when I read the article, yet it didn't specifically mention that "manual operation while driving" is what's going to be illegal.

Re: California Court Bans Checking Smartphone Maps While Driving

#16

Post by [deleted] »

Cushman wrote: post #11
kevingadd wrote: post #2

Are paper maps illegal too? What about having someone in the passenger seat check the map and then tell me what to do? Can they hold the phone in front of my face for me so I can see the map? I honestly just wish they'd settle for a simple, concrete description of what's acceptable while driving and what isn't. Like, you must always keep your eyes on the road, or you must always have both hands on the wheel, or whate…

Don't worry, the days of this sort of thing are numbered. There is exactly one way it is acceptable to operate a motor vehicle: Input a destination for the computer to drive to, and release the controls. Anything less is a tragedy that hasn't happened yet.

[deleted]

Re: California Court Bans Checking Smartphone Maps While Driving

#17

Post by michaelfeathers »

charonn0 wrote: post #13
kevingadd wrote: post #2

Are paper maps illegal too? What about having someone in the passenger seat check the map and then tell me what to do? Can they hold the phone in front of my face for me so I can see the map? I honestly just wish they'd settle for a simple, concrete description of what's acceptable while driving and what isn't. Like, you must always keep your eyes on the road, or you must always have both hands on the wheel, or whate…

> I honestly just wish they'd settle for a simple, concrete description of what's acceptable while driving and what isn't It is unacceptable to divide your attention when hurtling down the road in a ton and a half of steel.

Not to argue, but attention is not the blocky thing we like to think that it is.

Re: California Court Bans Checking Smartphone Maps While Driving

#18

Post by MRSallee »

cryptoz wrote: post #9

The only way forward to a sane future is to ban all humans driving all cars. Increase funding and scale of self-driving car efforts to get them on the road as quickly (and safely) as possible, then ban all the humans. I can see no other reasonable end to this insanity. 30,000 to 40,000 Americans die every year in car accidents that are pretty much all human error. Ban the human drivers.

I like driving / motorcycle riding too much to agree with this, but it really is ridiculous that some people are afraid of computers driving on public roads. When I see a Google self-driving car on the road, I am relieved.

Re: California Court Bans Checking Smartphone Maps While Driving

#19

Post by Swannie »

As someone who would have been ran into multiple times by texting drivers, had I not been paying full attention to what was happening around me, I wish these sorts of laws were rigorously pursued.

However, I think policing of this really only makes sense in some areas, those where there are a high number of pedestrians or cyclists who are at far greater risk of serious injury.

Re: California Court Bans Checking Smartphone Maps While Driving

#20

Post by Evbn »

charonn0 wrote: post #13
kevingadd wrote: post #2

Are paper maps illegal too? What about having someone in the passenger seat check the map and then tell me what to do? Can they hold the phone in front of my face for me so I can see the map? I honestly just wish they'd settle for a simple, concrete description of what's acceptable while driving and what isn't. Like, you must always keep your eyes on the road, or you must always have both hands on the wheel, or whate…

> I honestly just wish they'd settle for a simple, concrete description of what's acceptable while driving and what isn't It is unacceptable to divide your attention when hurtling down the road in a ton and a half of steel.

That's not what CA law says.
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