Idiots with GPS street directories!

[damo]

I got a mite angry today with what to me is becoming an annoying trend.
Those inept people with GPS street directorys stuck in the middle of their windscreens. I am starting to see them in a lot of cars and they seem to be distracting the drivers in dnagerous way. It's like they are driving whilst watching the screen and steering according to it, not the road!
I hit the end today with one idiot at a turn signal. When the light changed, the cars ahead moved off and this guys was slow to realise the light had changed so about 3 cars apart from him missed the light, including myself.
Next cycle of the lights he missed it completely, and with my horn not working I was fortunate the guy behind me was quick to show displeasure.
Apart from the fact this idiot was totaly absorbed in the thing, he had it stuck to the windscreen at eye height and slightly left of straight ahead!
The perfect blind spot for hitting pedestrians. Maybee we need some laws about these things? As for useful, in the time it takes to correctly program where you want to go, I can find the destination and plan the whole trip with a paper directory.

What a rant! This guy really ****ed me off:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

So much i couldn't spell the title right!

[Bytemrk]

I'm with you on that one Damo,

I have a magellan Median GPS (not a talking street directory gizmo), it sits in a mount on my widsceen when we go bush and it is awsome...

Around town though....it stays on my desk - it is just too easy to be looking at the screen rather than on what you should be doing when driving. Just don't need it.

I guess though many of the types that feel they need it in town.... would be looking at the street dirstory on the passenger seat rather than outthe windscreen anyway:eek::eek:

Mark

[incisor]

mine tells me where to go.... no need to look at it,

and i can program it to take me anywhere in AU in under 20sec, which i do in the car park before taking off or on the side of the rode before i take off again. takes me more than 20 seconds to find what page the map is on much less try and read the useless bloody things at night. give me my gps unit anyday

idiots drive cars and gpses in cars and mobile phones in cars :P

dont knock the technology just because some dont know how to use it in an appropriate manner...

[one_iota]

Hi Damo,

I agree with the thrust of your arguments but be very careful when you invoke the God of Legislation:


.....with my horn not working.... Maybee we need some laws about these things?

[George130]

Understand the frustration Damo but have to agree on the its the idiots not the technology.

[dullbird]

i also understand but if it wasn't for the fact i have destinator and i was working off a map i would probably still be looking for the rental property we live in...............

thats not to say i can't read a map i can just not while i'm driving;) ......and no good at memorising have a memory of a goldfish

:confused: what was this thread about again:confused:

dullbird

[DeeJay]

I would be lost without mine :D

I was in the Landie just two nights ago when a guy in front in a tarago type vehicle seemed totally lost as he was slowing then starting to turn just like he was getting told bad directions. You could see the screen on his dash too- at least mine dims automatically- his was very bright.
I figured he was a tourist, or idiot, as these things are pretty bloody good and give you lots of notice. They are even multilanguage. I had a mate who was going to Italy so I put mine on Italian for him- very funny till I realised the words are Italian too and I had no idea how to get back to English:eek:
Maybe in time they will become second nature as I took a while to stop looking at the screen.

[dullbird]

I would be lost without mine :D



funny i got lost with my'n the other day 5 hours later

we decided the moral to this story is don't trust the gps on some unsealed roads....

we didn't know, we stupid, we come from uk, we no have dirt ROADS in uk

[damo]

The technology is useful especialy out bush and I aspire to a system using 1:25000 survey maps for that purpose. But to have a system that only shows you a small portion of the path, as you go, requires quite a level of attention to it, and when you are not paying attention to the screen, you are trying orientate the outside with what the screen shows, not what's happening in front of you. There is the issue of focus response times, especialy at night, where it takes a couple of second or more to adjust from a small, well lit screen to a darkened, poorly illuminated environment.
The sensible thing to do, and what I do, is stop when you don't know the route further, orientate yourself, plan and go another leg. The one thing the GPS won't let you do is choose an alternate route based on peak times, known bottlenecks, toll aviodence. The talking versions have great merrit in this case alhtough can succumb to out of date data and rpogramming errors.
The god of legislation is only invoked when the people cannot help themselves or be trusted to to be sensible.

[one_iota]

This is an ethical question (the God of Responsibility invoked):

Damo.... if a person (let's say a child) walked onto the road without looking and the difference between being run over and not being run over was you using your horn (and it doesn't work) who is responsible?

[Ralph1Malph]

I do not have one the aforementioned devices coz' I would be guilty of the very concerns expressed by Damo.:o
I already find it hard to drink from my spill-proof cup whilst I text the boss, skip songs on my i-pod and plug in my laptop to the blue tooth connector to send my days email.:eek:
I am just lucky I drive an auto D1 and most other cars on the freeway have working fog lamps!:o
No idea how I would program a GPS street directory as well!

Regards
Ralph^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^

[DeeJay]

I do not have one the aforementioned devices coz' I would be guilty of the very concerns expressed by Damo.:o
I already find it hard to drink from my spill-proof cup whilst I text the boss, skip songs on my i-pod and plug in my laptop to the blue tooth connector to send my days email.:eek:
I am just lucky I drive an auto D1 and most other cars on the freeway have working fog lamps!:o
No idea how I would program a GPS street directory as well!

Regards
Ralph^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^

WOT ??
U don't smoke too by any chance??:lol:

[landrovermick]

having them in the middle of the windscreen is an offence - obscure vision, most probably coupled with neg. drive depending on the manner they are driving..,....

having said that - i rubber band mine to the rhs of the rear vision mirror - as its out of the way or use velcro patches to stick it to the dash and just listen,

as for using it in the city - its great for surveillance as it shows me where the one way and dead end streets are - nothing worse than following a crook into a dead end street and having them take a real good look at you as they pass you - might as well go back to the office and eat BURNT toast!!!!

he he he

[damo]

This is an ethical question:

Damo.... if a person (let's say a child) walked onto the road without looking and the difference between being run over and not being run over was you using your horn (and it doesn't work) who is responsible?

I wouldn't use the horn as the child would most likely freeze with fright and I would have lost the braking and avoidence time I need dodge the little sod who's parents and a slack state government school system couldn't be bothered to teach road safety to, as it was easier and to put a 40kph zone in.

Seriously, and i know this from experience, when that pedestrian scenario happens, if you can use the horn, you won't be close enough to get them and can slow and avoid. If they do step out and collision is imminent, you may have enough time to swerve and brake but not likely.
I was hit by a car when I was six. I stepped out without looking and accept all blame as that is the truth to it. Roads are for cars, footpaths for people. Pedestrians and legislators need to understand that the pedestrian is far more easier to control than the car and should not have more rights to the road than the motorist. At the same time, we recognise that operating a motervehicle requires a high degree of concentration yet allow distractions to drivers within these vehicles.

I operate an armoured truck through Sydney CBD for up to 10 hours at a time and what pedestrians and other drivers do is astounding. I really fear that humans are de-evolving. The top of the food chain should not be held by creatures this dumb!:eek:

[Bytemrk]

already find it hard to drink from my spill-proof cup whilst I text the boss
Ralph.... I just find it hard to text!...I thought phone where for talking into:mad:


Inc is right... It's not the technology that is the issue... it's the dopey buggers using it....................that's why my magellan stays on the desk around town:blush:

[Disco300Tdi]

My Garmin is mounted on top of the dashboard above the 5 gauges in the middle.
I use it as my speedo because the needle jumps all over the place

Great for around town, but a ***** in the tunnels

[Slunnie]

That's speculation. Its a bit hard to predict if the outcome was determined by a functional or non functional horn.

[solmanic]

I don't understand why the guy was even needing to look at the SatNav - they're meant to talk to you. Used one in Europe for a while and it was AMAZING. Even in peculiar little French villages it was able to direct me right to our front door.

[dobbo]

i also understand but if it wasn't for the fact i have destinator and i was working off a map i would probably still be looking for the rental property we live in...............

thats not to say i can't read a map i can just not while i'm driving;) ......and no good at memorising have a memory of a goldfish

:confused: what was this thread about again:confused:

dullbird

I take offence to these lies, Goldfish have very good memories,
This is just a slanderous accusation propergated by unimaginative weak minded persons. Or the church of scientology, besides just cause their gold doesn't mean they're blonde................

Speaking of which isn't it funny how many newer cars seem to have the glass house look (very small pillars so as to not abstruct peripheral vision of pedestrians) would it be safe to assume these newer vehicles therefore have a similar appearance to an aquarium. Therefore one must concure that the habitants of these so called artificial aquatic santuaries would be fish. Now I have blonde hair, hey look and absorciser on tele ........ now what was I saying? Oh well I'll think of it again next lap.

Meanwhile in the words of Douglas Adams

" So long and thanks for all the fish"

[dobbo]

I worked with a bloke who had a lcd screen set up in his car connected to the GPS, on the other A.V channel he had a set top box and a set of rabbit ears via an invertor. 95% of the time he's watching tele whilst commuting Sydney traffic, how the hell is this legal,more to the point how many others are out there doing it. if he gets pulled over he changes channel and police see the GPS mapping. How long do you think he's got before he has an accident. I don't trust GPS on the few occasions we've used them bushwalking the bloody thing has given false info you'd think a state on the art GPS would be more accurate than an amature with a twenty buck compass and a topo map. No the GPS was stating the car was S.S.W Bull*&*^, Both compasses, the map, geographical feattures and both persons on the walk believed otherwise, Guess what we were right. The next hike the GPS compasses and map got wet. Guess which one failed first

[amtravic1]

I have Navman maps working on bluetooth with my pda. It talks to me very clearly. It is a really usefull tool if used correctly. My work involves travelling to places I dont know well to do emergency insurance repairs, often at night and it means I can just drive to where I am going instead of having to get out the street directory (and often torch and maybe magnifying glass thse days) every time I am unsure of which turn to take.

Ian

[Redback]

mine tells me where to go.... no need to look at it,

and i can program it to take me anywhere in AU in under 20sec, which i do in the car park before taking off or on the side of the rode before i take off again. takes me more than 20 seconds to find what page the map is on much less try and read the useless bloody things at night. give me my gps unit anyday

idiots drive cars and gpses in cars and mobile phones in cars :P

dont knock the technology just because some dont know how to use it in an appropriate manner...

Same as me:D our Navman is brilliant

Don't knock it till ya try it:p

[stevo68]

I have the premium Sat Nav in the D3 ( dont ya just hate it when people say premium :D he he he) it speaks and has voice activation, plus the screen is in the dashboard. Plus you can only work it at a stand still ie you cannot operate it whilst on the road, unless I use voice activation...like.....' Im hungry" and all the food places will pop on screen, or "Petrol Stations" and the same thing happens. Did I mention I love my sat nav :cool:

Regards

Stevo

[damo]

I have the premium Sat Nav in the D3 ( dont ya just hate it when people say premium :D he he he) it speaks and has voice activation, plus the screen is in the dashboard. Plus you can only work it at a stand still ie you cannot operate it whilst on the road, unless I use voice activation...like.....' Im hungry" and all the food places will pop on screen, or "Petrol Stations" and the same thing happens. Did I mention I love my sat nav :cool:

Regards

Stevo

Does it work with commands like "Beer" or "Strippers"? You'd hope it would with the premium prefix:D What about "Affordable Landrover Servicing"? That would probably cause it to crash.:p

The sat nav, not the D3.... Don't crash the D3, that would be a crime.:(

[stevo68]

Does it work with commands like "Beer" or "Strippers"? You'd hope it would with the premium prefix:D What about "Affordable Landrover Servicing"? That would probably cause it to crash.:p

The sat nav, not the D3.... Don't crash the D3, that would be a crime.:(

No unfortunately but it is quite an extensive list, I think there is one for either Landrover service/ dealership and will locate nearest one, though definately not affordable :eek: . Its good for going to places you dont know and can stipulate what you are looking for and it will locate for you. Hmm maybe might be able to program beer and strippers, though dunno how the missus would be with the later :cool: . Havent crashed the D3 just given it a slight whack so far :rolleyes:

Regards

Stevo

[damo]

You will have to put a "Male Strippers" command into it to keep her happy. Or maybee "Shoe Shops", "Handbags", "Hairdressers"......... :D

How bad is a "whack"?

[stevo68]

You will have to put a "Male Strippers" command into it to keep her happy. Or maybee "Shoe Shops", "Handbags", "Hairdressers"......... :D

How bad is a "whack"? True, then Ill probably have to change over to the male voice and she thinks Im having an affair with the female voice :o . The whack is the rear right hand side pillar from sliding into a tree in reverse :eek: , was pretty muddy, had the club over doing bush bashing in my front paddock. Also cracked the rear light and a cuppla deeper scratches below the light. A lot of bravado at the time, tears the next day, cool with it now, havent had it fixed till I do some other damage ( if that happens)

Regards

Stevo

[damo]

Be careful when performing in front of others. You know the story about the last words a redneck says before he dies.... 'Hey Y'all, watch this!!!'.

[Jamo]

Stevo,

You can operate the Satnav on the move. All you need to do is enter the PIN 1791 into the diag screen. But you have to re-enter the number everytime that you re-start the car as it resets itself.

To get to the diag screen, go to the Navigation Menu screen thats got the four big setup buttons on it (two of which are greyed out when driving) and press and hold the screen at top middle (approximately to the right of the word Menu) for about 10 seconds. There is an 'invisible' button here.

This gets you to the Pin enter screen. Enter the pin and press enter then hit the return button.

I don't advocate playing with the Satnav whilst driving, but it's good for you wife/partner to be able to enter destinations whilst moving.:D

[stevo68]

Stevo,

You can operate the Satnav on the move. All you need to do is enter the PIN 1791 into the diag screen. But you have to re-enter the number everytime that you re-start the car as it resets itself.

To get to the diag screen, go to the Navigation Menu screen thats got the four big setup buttons on it (two of which are greyed out when driving) and press and hold the screen at top middle (approximately to the right of the word Menu) for about 10 seconds. There is an 'invisible' button here.

This gets you to the Pin enter screen. Enter the pin and press enter then hit the return button.

I don't advocate playing with the Satnav whilst driving, but it's good for you wife/partner to be able to enter destinations whilst moving.:D Thanks for that mate, didnt know that and you are right the partner who may one day become a wife :eek: ( geez I hope she doesnt read that :rolleyes: ) would be able to find a place, whereas we normally pull over, especially if in heaps of traffic and want to find an alternative route, you start to punch in the info into the touch screen and then you move forward and it "greys" out. Will have a go this arvo,

Regards

Stevo

[dobbo]

I have the premium Sat Nav in the D3 ( dont ya just hate it when people say premium :D he he he) it speaks and has voice activation, plus the screen is in the dashboard. Plus you can only work it at a stand still ie you cannot operate it whilst on the road, unless I use voice activation...like.....' Im hungry" and all the food places will pop on screen, or "Petrol Stations" and the same thing happens. Did I mention I love my sat nav :cool:

Regards

Stevo

How would it work if you had a speech impediment:confused::confused::confused::confused: :confused:

[stevo68]

How would it work if you had a speech impediment It does get used to your voice, sometimes it goes awry, like when I say CD,DISK 1, Track 5, and one of the kids yell out, it responds with " Sorry I cant understand that" so I tell it to go, well you know and do it myself :D

Regards

Stevo

[damo]

OK, I have been away with the army and been dying to tell about this one.
The next night, same right turn, same problem, different oxygen thief stuffed it up for everyone waiting by messing around with his sat-nav at the lights.
Sat night I did a nav ex with the old faithful of compass and pacing. We had GPS with us but decided not to use it as the OPFOR had NVG's and the GPS has a lit screen. We were so successful at evading the OPFOR, HQ ordered us into an ambush. Map, Compass, Douglas protractor and a well noted nav data sheet. All you need. But getting lazy and will get e GPS at some time.

[Redback]

I take offence to these lies, Goldfish have very good memories,
This is just a slanderous accusation propergated by unimaginative weak minded persons. Or the church of scientology, besides just cause their gold doesn't mean they're blonde................

Speaking of which isn't it funny how many newer cars seem to have the glass house look (very small pillars so as to not abstruct peripheral vision of pedestrians) would it be safe to assume these newer vehicles therefore have a similar appearance to an aquarium. Therefore one must concure that the habitants of these so called artificial aquatic santuaries would be fish. Now I have blonde hair, hey look and absorciser on tele ........ now what was I saying? Oh well I'll think of it again next lap.

Meanwhile in the words of Douglas Adams

" So long and thanks for all the fish"


This is, just plain funnyhttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2006/08/214.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2006/08/214.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2006/08/214.jpg