Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

money.cnn.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

311–320 of 393 posts

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#311

Post by jbrooksuk »

shalmanese wrote: post #266
copperx wrote: post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm honestly surprised they don't restrict that. Does anybody know why? I know different states have different speed limits, but I think a 85mph speed limit could cover them all. Is it because Canada and Mexico? They have lower speed limits. Is it because the car could be exported to Germany and driven on the Autobahn? or what?

I've always been puzzled as to why cars don't come with speed governing as a (default off) option. I'd love to be able to lend my car to my child with the max speed set to 60mph or govern my speed to 65 on long freeway trips so I don't have to constantly check my speedometer (this is different from cruise control because I could easily slow down below 65, just never go above it).

My car has a speed limiter that I can turn on, but weirdly it can't be used in combination with cruise control. My use-case here would be cruising at one speed, then speeding up a bit to get around someone (think motorway/highway), but I don't want to go above the speed limit.

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#312

Post by MagnumOpus »

gambiting wrote: post #305
copperx wrote: post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm honestly surprised they don't restrict that. Does anybody know why? I know different states have different speed limits, but I think a 85mph speed limit could cover them all. Is it because Canada and Mexico? They have lower speed limits. Is it because the car could be exported to Germany and driven on the Autobahn? or what?

Simplest explanation - because a car can be taken on a private road(off road track, racing circuit) and driven as fast as you like. Yeah, you are not going to do that in a prius, but theoretically, you could. All new cars in EU have to be limited to 155mph by law, but manufacturers are allowed to remove that restriction if you complete an advanced training course. So for example - mercedes will remove the speed limit…

> All new cars in EU have to be limited to 155mph by law

Can you give a source for that? To my knowledge the 155mph limit is just an informal agreement between BMW, Merc and Audi, and not law. The agreement also expired a decade ago.

I am fairly sure that you can just buy an RS6 or an AMG Mercedes with 190mph top speed, no courses required.

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#313

Post by stuffmatters »

Bud wrote: post #309
eric_h wrote: post #258

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ha, and apple just removed the 3.5mm jack from their phones. Perhaps the entire reason for it was to get CarPlay into more cars :P

No. It wasn't. And by the way, the iPhone 7 can still output to a 3.5mm aux jack just fine, which you probably already knew, or should know.

And then you can't charge it. Terrible trade-off.

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#314

Post by tallanvor »

s0rce wrote: post #293
ptmcc wrote: post #240

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's also legal, in some states at least, to briefly exceed the speed limit while passing on a 2-lane highway. For example, in Washington: http://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.425

The link appears to be related to minimum speed limits...

Yes, but it also states that on a 2 lane road, you can exceed the speed limit for as long as necessary to pass on the left if the car you are passing is driving below the legal limit and you are at a point where it is legal to pass.

An example is that if the speed limit is 55mph, it would generally be allowable to speed up to 60 to pass a farm vehicle traveling at 45mph on a 2 lane road provided that you're at a location where passing is allowed (clear line of sight, and the center line would be dotted instead of solid, no oncoming vehicles that would have to brake, etc.).

The second paragraph of that act does note that some roads may have minimum speed limits posted which you're not allowed to go slower than provided the road conditions are normal.

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#315

Post by Ntrails »

gambiting wrote: post #307
shalmanese wrote: post #266

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've always been puzzled as to why cars don't come with speed governing as a (default off) option. I'd love to be able to lend my car to my child with the max speed set to 60mph or govern my speed to 65 on long freeway trips so I don't have to constantly check my speedometer (this is different from cruise control because I could easily slow down below 65, just never go above it).

Most cruise control systems come with a limiter as well though, so you can set a limit and then the car will never exceed it. Also, no offence, but if you can't trust your kid with a car, then maybe you shouldn't be lending them it in the first place? Or get them a less powerful car for the start?

Depending on where you live and the sorts of roads you drive, accidents often come from corners/junctions/road conditions/acceleration etc rather than just MAX_SPEED.

A speed limiter is an incredibly one dimensional tool to try and modify accident chance.

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#316

Post by hueving »

People prefer better user experience over worse user experience. More news at 10.

Seriously, I am blown away that car manufacturers manage to pitch navigation systems as a value add to the car. "Would you like to spend an additional $1500 for a system with a UI workflow developed as the first GPS satellites were being launched? For an additional $50/mo you can even keep the information up to date so it doesn't suggest you drive across the hoover dam."

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#317

Post by hueving »

Kadin wrote: post #247
copperx wrote: post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm honestly surprised they don't restrict that. Does anybody know why? I know different states have different speed limits, but I think a 85mph speed limit could cover them all. Is it because Canada and Mexico? They have lower speed limits. Is it because the car could be exported to Germany and driven on the Autobahn? or what?

There were, until very recently, some roads in Montana that didn't have any speed limit during the day. They provided at least a legal justification that there was a legitimate on-road use case for going more than 85MPH. I believe Montana gave that up in the last few years, so there wouldn't be much of a case against putting an 85MPH governor in cars, except I guess against the possibility that some state might at so…

Ah, the glory days. The speed limits returned quite some time ago (>12 years) in Montana after the stupid out of staters ruined it by killing themselves too frequently on their 'Montana autobahn experiences'.

Back when the national speed limit was forced to 55mph because of the energy crisis, Montana legislators thumbed their nose at it by making it a cash fine of $5 IIRC that did not go on your record.

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#318

Post by smileysteve »

sliken wrote: post #188
astrodust wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a stupid question: Why is the user interface on a $30K car so bad compared to a $99 smart phone you can buy at the drug store? What is with the garbage they call software these days? The response time on some of these in-dash systems can be measured in seconds.

The CPU, Display, etc of a car is designed extremely conservatively. Cars lasting 20 years are not uncommon, vibration, temperature extremes, and direct physical abuse (kids, fingers, ice cream, feet, fists, pounding, etc). Not to mention being turned off for months. Car buyers are also pretty sensitive about monthly costs (thus no data connection). Your smartphone is designed to die around 2 years (expoxied battery)…

> and direct physical abuse (kids, fingers, ice cream, feet, fists, pounding, etc)

Considering that tablets in the hands of babies are commonplace (with special distraction apps) it seems that phones / tablets have or need to have this too.

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#319

Post by Tephlon »

jbrooksuk wrote: post #311
shalmanese wrote: post #266

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've always been puzzled as to why cars don't come with speed governing as a (default off) option. I'd love to be able to lend my car to my child with the max speed set to 60mph or govern my speed to 65 on long freeway trips so I don't have to constantly check my speedometer (this is different from cruise control because I could easily slow down below 65, just never go above it).

My car has a speed limiter that I can turn on, but weirdly it can't be used in combination with cruise control. My use-case here would be cruising at one speed, then speeding up a bit to get around someone (think motorway/highway), but I don't want to go above the speed limit.

In my car that's just done by stepping on the gas a bit for passing and then letting go. Cruise control only turns off on braking or shifting (Manual)

Re: Most drivers who own cars with built-in GPS systems use phones for directions

#320

Post by [deleted] »

masklinn wrote: post #112
tdkl wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would I pay hundreds of $currency for a new head unit or thousands for a new car, if I'm already walking around with a device capable doing all that? Android Auto/Car play should just run as a dedicated mode on the phone.

> Why would I pay hundreds of $currency for a new head unit or thousands for a new car Larger display and physical buttons are really quite a good idea when you're driving 2 tons of steel at 60mph.

[deleted]
Post reply on HN