h a l f b a k e r yLike gliding backwards through porridge.
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People do unsafe things when listening intently to
turn-by-turn GPS navigation systems. This is an almost
undisputed fact (see links below). I think perhaps the
most dangerous is forgetting to activate one's turn
signal before making a sudden and screeching turn.
Well the GPS unit knows
that
you're about to turn (or
rather, that you are SUPPOSED to turn based on the
destination you put in). Why not hook it up to your
turn signals so it automatically activates them at the
appropriate distance before a turn? This could be
done with hardwire or Bluetooth. Could also be used
to deactivate them after failing to
turn for a set distance.
note: Nowhere in the post did
I say it has to be mandatory. There are a wide variety
of GPS units, each with its own feature set, available
on the market for you to choose from. If you feel this
inhibits your freedom as a driver, get a different
model. As for me, I would feel a little peace of mind
with something like this working for me.
Note also: It doesn't take steering or acceleration
control away from the driver. The driver has full
control of where the vehicle goes and when it goes
there. This just activates the signal for you, which
drivers are required by law to do, yet frequently fail
to do. It's along the same lines as auto-dimming
headlights for the safety of approaching cars.
Here's your evidence, Jutta.
http://www.uslaw.co...-devices.php?p=1227 [21 Quest, Jan 08 2010]
Google search results page
http://www.google.c...-us&og=gp&source=gp [21 Quest, Jan 08 2010]
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Annotation:
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...sniff...sniff, ... sniff,...sniff...smells like a rant... |
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Inspired by a rant, granted, but I stand behind the invention's
merit. |
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it is also a remote possiblity that the turn signal might remind the driver to turn |
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Naturally, it would also be courteous enough (to other drivers) to shut off the blinkers after making the turn, should the driver fail to do so. |
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Sorry about your dead family, I changed my mind and wanted a cheeseburger. But it's not my fault, here's the number of the GPS nav company. |
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(-) "Well the GPS unit knows that you're about to turn." No, it really doesn't. It can tell me something, but it's up to me to interpret the situational details and drive correctly. Don't mess with that control and responsibility.
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// This is an almost undisputed fact.
So, you don't have any evidence for it at all, then? |
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That reminds me...this one time I was driving to a crowded water park, and was stuck in a line of cars on the route suggested by the GPS through a residential/ light commercial area. By deviating from the GPS-suggested route by 1 block, I avoided the line of cars and a ~1hr wait time. |
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//Since 2005, according to Dan Brucker of Metro-North railroad,
a growing number of state drivers have informed police that they
were following GPS devices instead of paying attention to signs
at parkway entrances//
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Judging by the title of 3 of the search results, it seems that
approximately 300,000 accidents have been blamed on GPS in
the
USA alone. There's no shortage of testimony that blames GPS for
accidents. Well I don't blame the technology, I blame the user.
This idea is based on the sad fact that many GPS users
apparently
cannot be trusted to use it safely. |
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A GPS I got with a rental car in Florida definitely gave me the shortest possible route, but with the prison sentence for trespassing on Kennedy Space Center restricted roads it probably wouldn't have been the quickest.
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Until the GPS can actually recognize all applicable factors, it shouldn't be directly in the control loop even if some people already treat it that way.
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And [sninc] that's going to get more common unless we have multiple different GPS algorthims or the units all have live traffic recognition, as the units are going to direct everyone the same. |
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Google Maps is pretty good at avoiding traffic if you tell it to find
an alternate route or avoid major thoroughfares , and even has a
very reliable voice guided turn by turn feature that has yet to
send me anywhere I can't legally go. It also tells me a few blocks
in advance of an upcoming turn. |
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I think drivers who *aren't* using GPS and are unfamiliar with
the area are much more likely to make sudden unheralded
movements. The satnav gives one plenty of warning;
without it, people tend to suddenly spot a street name and
haul over at the last moment. |
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It could just remind you calmly to signal your turns. Every single time. |
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It could just remind you calmly to signal your turns. Every single time. |
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It could just remind you calmly to signal your turns. Every single time. |
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Jutta, it doesn't take steering or acceleration control
away from the driver. The driver has full control of where
the vehicle goes and when it goes there. This just
activates the signal for you, which drivers are required by
law to do, yet frequently fail to do. It's along the same
lines as auto-dimming headlights for the safety of
approaching cars.
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By the way, I edited the post to remove the rantiness of
it. |
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sniff....sniff...sniff....[] |
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