Ban Touch Screens in Cars

Did this feeling of sensory overload occur before or after you did the PriusChat avatar masterpiece? :lol:

In all seriousness, it might be an age related phenomenon. I find as I get older, I get overloaded with signs, lights and traffic much easier than I used to. I don't drive much at night as a result of this realization. I often think that multi-tasking is easier with younger reflexes and eyesight.

Just a thought, which might insult some , but hey, I'm allowed.

 

Sure, turn off the display and don't talk on the phone while driving. Those are two things that you could do.

Hell, I get that "blackout" all the time and I don't have a cell phone a just recently got the prius. Just let the fish/reptile part of your brain do the driving and you'll be fine. (BTW, as I recall, that's what causes the "blackout" sensation).

 

Nope - I want more! CAN View, Video, Backup Video, etc!

I think having all of the major controls in one, high location is a good thing which helps to minimize distractions. I don't fiddle much with all the sub-screens - mostly just Consumption and NAV screens. I too use the NAV override, but sparingly.

At first, I was a bit overwelmed, but now, I'm often bored; so my primary attention is to the road.

 

Exactly. Your higher level brain functions are taken up by the other features and your lower level stuff drives the car. That's why you get the "how did I get here" feeling. Your short-term memory wasn't involved in that process. The lower level parts don't have that capability so you remember nothing. I get that when I'm lost in thought while driving. It actually hasn't happened since I got the Prius because I'm totally absorbed in traffic conditions, terrain, and maximizing MPG. On the other hand, my wife complains because I'm too focused on the damn road now. I can't keep up a conversation anymore!

 

I think we should ban Tom and Ray M. instead of touch screens. They are comedians who know a little about fixing cars and not much about driving them. In the Prius, at least, the use of the MFD while driving is optional.

EDIT: Please don't tell me listening to Tom and Ray is optional, I already know that but I usually listen anyway.

 

I don't know, tripp, I think there's way too many reptilian drivers as it is.

 

I've only got that "How did I get here?" feeling when waking up from deep sleep while driving.

I love the lights, buttons and gadgets. You don't need to use them all, all the time. Some day we won't be driving our cars manualy so we will have more time to use more gadgets in the car. Hope I live to see it, sleep driving and all.

 

I've had that playing sports. Is it because I'm concentrating so hard that I forget to remember?

 

If they can't ban cell phone use in a car,...I'm sure the touch screen is not an issue!

 

If the distractions are just a problem for you personally, you can always downgrade and get a Prius that does not have bluetooth and does not have nav.

If it is a larger societal safety concern that you are having, I'd only be worried if there were some sort of statistics that indicate people with all the gismos are actually more likely to get into accidents than those without. There are always distractions while driving, it just depends on what you decide to focus on. Some focus on what's happening on the side of the road, some focus on phone conversations, some focus on the bumper sticker on the car in front of them, some just day dream and think about something else all together. This is just a natural consequence of the fact that after driving all of our lives it becomes more instinctual and boring. Our minds need something to think about during the mundane time of driving, or we'll fall asleep.

As for the Prius, bluetooth is certainly safer than having to hold the phone while using it. The nav is becoming safer in 06 with voice recognition while driving so people will keep their eyes on the road (since everyone uses the override code anyway). The backup camera is not a distraction at all. It only works while backing up, and looking at that will only save lives (and misplaced toys).

I do believe that the consumption and energy screens are unnecessary distractions.

 

I have to say that the Prius and the display makes me a better driver. As for the Nav I am watching the road and listening to the directions. I am looking at the road picking my lane, keeping my distance so I can drive my car rather than following someone's speed and driving program. Over all I am a slower more observant driver.

 

i deal with people every day that cant handle the simplest of new... well cant even call it technology really. sometimes only a single change in a well known procedure is all that is necessary to throw them into a panic.

i say to bob and whoever, or whatever their names was...not good at new names..., anyway... what was i talking about...spaced off there.

 

If Priuses are totaled more often, it may be do to the high cost to fix the car because of all the gadgetry. The fact that a car is totaled doesn't mean it is less safe, just that it costs more to fix than others.

 

There was a post about a Prius that was T boned and the air bags all went off. It was low speed and body damage was minimal, the initial response of the insurance company was to total the car because of replacing all the air bags, plus body damage. I don't know how it all came out but it was an eye-opener.

 

The most dangerous thing about my Prius' computer is the hoops I have to jump through to enable destination entry capabilities for my passenger.

 

:lol: :lol: :lol: I'll remeber that the next time something bad happens "just at the moment" you are looking at the screen. "The radar detector makes me a better driver"... :lol: :lol: :lol: