Safe Speed Forums

I don't think it's right to blame the technology. When used correctly, sat nav systems make driving in unknown areas much safer by giving advance warning of exits, turnings etc and eliminating the need to read maps behind the wheel.

Tapping postcodes into the sat nav whilst on the move comes from the same type of complacency that makes people think they can safely send text messages off their phone or eat a Big Mac meal while driving.

Road safety education is the only way to address this kind of complacency. Legislation only serves to confuse - e.g. hand-held mobile phones are banned unconditionally, whilst equally distracting activities are allowed.

Plus we have this general message that's getting put out that your safety is dependent only on what speed you're doing. People think they can do whatever they like as long as they pull into Lane 1 of the motorway and slow to 50mph first.

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“For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong.” - H. L. Mencken

It's really a gabage self-promotion exercise by Privilege / Direct Line Insurance. See:

http://www.newspress.co.uk/DAILY_LINKS/ ... 06priv.htm

I don't see any information there that is of any interest to a serious road safety debate - mainly because they simply haven't taken the trouble to define the terms used.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

Grr it's not the system, it's the user! *shakes fist at stupid users*
(IT support, moi? )

GPS is much safer to use while driving than a paper map if used correctly. Not that you should really be looking at either, but it is nice to be able to have a quick glance to confirm your route at times and some GPS units even squeak to you! "You have gone the wrong way, perform a U turn." "ok..."
GPS map will automatically position it's self somewhere near where you are. Paper maps require turning of pages.

No wait, I'm wrong. Reading a map while driving is safer because you'll reduce your speed. Chances are that if you're drivig along looking at a map you'll be under the speed limit and therefore you're safe.

If only there was a way to catch stupid people whilst driving. Speed cameras aren't going to do it. If only I could invent some kind of inteligent system which can travel on roads acting as a stupidity deterent and detect and deal with sillyness...

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Andrew.

Indeed, and on some older systems which don't place the screen in a particularly convenient location (my 97-98 vintage unit has the screen down near the lower-left corner of the centre console-makes it easy for the front seat passenger to read, but very tricky for the driver, especially when the screen location is combined with its fairly low contrast), you're pretty much forced into using the voice option if you're driving alone.




Foglight cameras might do a slightly better job...




...I'm thinking some sort of organic-based unit to handle the detection and assessment, operating from a mechanically-propelled conveyance device. I guess it might need some way of alerting other road users of its presence, perhaps a flashing light would suffice-anyone got any good ideas about its colour?

What worries me where they put these things in the front window.
They seem to take up a lot of window space, a can make it harder to see out.
Some drivers have more than one device in there windows.

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Oct 11 Birmingham Half Marathon. I am running for the British Heart Foundation.
http://www.justgiving.com/Rob-Taylor

I now have a satnav. Its mounted in the bottom right hand corner of the windscreen, just above the dash. It doesn't restrict vision any more than the honking great thick screen pillar that all modern cars seem to have.

I find its well within the line of easy sight, and is no more distracting than a quick visual check of the speedo. It also talks to you, very politely. You can also set a warning speed so it will scream at you (I have mine set to +5mph) - Works well on major roads with clearly defined speed limits

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"Are you sh**ing me?"
"John Spartan, you are fined one credit for a violation of the verbal morality statute."

I purchased a new Road Angel navigator here in Australia and I find it absolutely brilliant.

I always check a new route using a map prior to getting into the car and then program the Road Angel before I set off.

I never even look at the unit while driving as it speaks to me very clearly with directions well in advance and counts down to the turn. It also warns me of fixed speed cameras, red light cameras and school zones depending on the time of day.

I have it positioned in the centre of the dash purely because on an E36 BMW it will not fit on the right hand side.

When used properly the device is both brilliant and definitely far safer to use when travelling to a new destination.

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Ross

Yes I'm a hoon, but only on the track!!!!