Forget responsibility
You can have my navigation system, dvd player, bluetooth, and iPod connectivity when you pry it from my cold dead hands
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, in the non-binding guidelines issued today, also called for disabling manual texting, Internet browsing, 10-digit phone dialing and the ability to enter addresses into a built-in navigation system for drivers unless the car is in park.
The latter is already here and it’s annoying. My wife’s Earthfucker has a fancy navigation system that you can’t edit while the vehicle is moving. It’s also not smart enough to enable editing of it when there’s a passenger in the car. We’ve had to actually stop the vehicle a few times to key an address instead of it being smart enough to realize that there’s a passenger in the car to key it.
Update: Feds Push NY Towards Full Ban On Electronic Devices In Cars
February 17th, 2012 at 10:30 am
That’d really suck for people without a “park” for their vehicle.
February 17th, 2012 at 10:53 am
Nothing will stop this crap unless people refuse to buy cars with these features. And I’m not so sure about that anymore.
February 17th, 2012 at 11:00 am
That’s a big reason I didn’t get the nav system in my new truck. Google navigator doesn’t care if you’re moving.
February 17th, 2012 at 11:05 am
@tdkerry: if the US-DOT says it’s mandatory, it will be impossible for any automaker to manufacture and sell a car without the feature.
You’d be surprised at how deep and long the FMVSS regulations are.
February 17th, 2012 at 11:07 am
It would also suck for passengers. There doesn’t seem to be a remedy for public ‘officials’ and their ‘unintended consequences’ stupidity.
February 17th, 2012 at 11:14 am
@Uncle,
is there a voice-command option for the Navi? Is that locked out also when the vehicle is in motion?
I’m trying to find stuff on the web about this…some older models of Lexus/Toyota had a similar Navi lockout, and there were published workarounds. But Ford likely uses a different supplier, and they may have disabled the work-around.
February 17th, 2012 at 11:19 am
Yeah there are definite work arounds. I’ve installed a few aftermarket units. It works on one wire being grounded. Find that wire and if someone where to attach it to the frame of the vehicle, there you go. Everything works. Well at least I’ve heard… Then again you shouldn’t have to do that.
February 17th, 2012 at 11:24 am
Sorry should clarify… That one wire coming off the radio/dvd/navigation unit is the Park Brake sensor wire. Ground that to the frame. As far as I know 100% of all units use that as their indicator.
February 17th, 2012 at 11:30 am
It’ll take about 3 seconds and someone will have hacked it to disable that particular feature. Look at DVDs. Encryption out the wazoo. Took someone almost zero time to work around that.
February 17th, 2012 at 11:41 am
When I bought mine, I had the option to buy a $3K box that did navigation, mp3 and rearview camera. Or I could use my phone and the mirrors.
February 17th, 2012 at 12:57 pm
Yeah, the upcharge for factory nav systems is loco.
February 17th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
I finally bought a cell phone (and that’s ALL it is) about a year ago, for two reasons. If I break down (I’m 71) I can call for help; if my car breaks down (she’s 39) I can call for help. One other use that applies to this discussion; if I see someone driving like an idiot or a drunk, I can call 911 and report it. And Nolan is right. None of my vehicles have Park.
February 17th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
Whatever happened to a goddamn map?
February 17th, 2012 at 11:45 pm
Compass, Rand-McNally and a wife knows how to read both.
I’ve also disconnected big broth … OnStar from my wife’s GM vehicle. Just in case.
February 18th, 2012 at 12:21 pm
Yeah, it was a teenager in, I think, Norway that hacked the DVD encryption, something like the day it came out, and had DeCSS on the net shortly after. I’ve used it under linux to read my own DVDs that you’re not allowed to watch unless you’ve bought into an OS that’s bought a license. Rent seeking bastards.
February 18th, 2012 at 11:31 pm
A friend of mine is 43 & couldn’t read a map if his life depended on it. Without GPS, I doubt he’d be able to find his way to the Walgreens a quarter mile from his house. A sad commentary on society.