Thread: who can drive and watch TV anyway?

Heh. Look I'm against killing innocent children too. And anybody's loved ones. Let's stop talking about that? What do you want me to reply, about running over a bank robber who just crossed the street, who just shot some girl's favorite teddy bear in her hands just for fun?



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Our only difference of opinion rest on how distracting tv is. That's the only meaningful topic of discussion. It's almost like you want me to cry and feel remorseful, but what is this, the View or Oprah?

All the rest is just BS to make you guys look good and confortable. There's nothing I can do really, I'm just going to ignore sad stories as distracting fallacy - there's a name for it it's called appeal to pity. It's beside the point.


I contend however that SOME tv shows are more boring and MUCH less distracting than a videoclips with hot girls, funny youtube clips or awesome new visualizations displaying. Even reading an email is more dangerous, but apparently the safe police is not concerned with that, I don't know why - Timbo66 is consistent banning everything though, and I respect that.


I state that dial one phone number, texting, putting lipstick is MUCH more distracting then watching live weather reports on your car, or bloomberg - of course not Giants vs. Rangers. I would never watch that while driving, not even sport reports.


Responsible people (hey me too! can I play?) can chose the tv programming they find is safe for using while driving. Some tv programs are just pundits talking. And talking. You can just glance and get the picture if that. You don't even have to manipulate any buttons, like many other actions in the car. Driving an unfamiliar rental car can be WAY more distracting (adjusting AC changing stations, etc.).


I admit this is not for everybody. Some people feel guilty just at the thought. We call those puritans: it's better not do it, if it can be viewed as wrong by most. Because we care.

I will say that I am guilty of this as well. I do like to listen to some of my favorite shows in the car. I guess it could be considered "watching tv" even though my eyes don't leave the road. It's no different to me than listening to music or radio talk shows. I still glance at my CarPC screen with the same frequency I do when audio-only is playing.

I did however install a screen switch for a while, to have the ability to switch it off at night while driving. That is a distraction to me no matter what is on the screen.

I'm sure there are a lot of people that can watch TV and drive just as safely, those people that can multitask without issue. The laws however are created to control the weakest man. The weakest man in this case being the man that wouldn't be able to peel his eyes off the screen to swerve and miss that semi he's headed straight for.

I remember as a kid while hiding out at my friends house when he wasn't supposed to have friends over, we'd wait until his older sister was watching TV. Then I'd walk right past her knowing she was too distracted to notice that I wasn't supposed to be there and thus get us both in big trouble. I reproduced this on my own family as well. I could pretty much do anything I wanted so long as I didn't do anything to interrupt TV viewing.

The human conscience brain (despite what some women claim) is really a single tasking processor. Some people can context switch really quick, but most people pay high penalties in the form of concentration. Most of the time, I'd say driving requires only light concentration. However, times when more concentration is required is rarely predictable. I'd hate to be in another context (ie, looking down at the screen) when such a thing occurs.

Just because you think you can do it and still be safe, doesn't really mean you are safe. I'm willing to bet most people who do that text-and-drive thing don't get into wrecks (probably because of the low ratio of hazards), but that doesn't make it safe.

Originally Posted by Tidder

I still glance at my CarPC screen with the same frequency I do when audio-only is playing.

Yep, same here.

I did however install a screen switch for a while, to have the ability to switch it off at night while driving. That is a distraction to me no matter what is on the screen.

Good idea.

I'm sure there are a lot of people that can watch TV and drive just as safely, those people that can multitask without issue.

Yes, its no big deal. You can't watch anything that you have to actually watch, like sports or anything too visual. If you can watch for the audio content only, like politics, talk shows, or general punditry, then I say what's the big deal? It's not like you can tune on the radio and the same content will be there because it won't.

On my old installs I use to watch TV, or should I say listen. If I had to change channels, I only did it at red lights.

The new system though, I will not be able to do any type of video on the driver screen. Instead I have to hit a button to make a motorized screen come up, which will only be for DVD, video and any fancy graphics. I did this to comply with law. When I am driving the screen is closed, when stopped, I can open and do what ever.

Originally Posted by tripzero

Just because you think you can do it and still be safe, doesn't really mean you are safe. I'm willing to bet most people who do that text-and-drive thing don't get into wrecks (probably because of the low ratio of hazards), but that doesn't make it safe.

I agree, but where do you draw the line between personal responsibility and forcing laws on everyone just so you can deal with the lowest common denominator? Or in the context of this thread, safety-hysteria from keeping all of your options available?

And I'd venture to guess, when radio was the only means of mass entertainment, you could probably have gotten away with murder behind your parents couch as well. The mind in this relaxed setting imagines what it can't actually see.

The idea that this is a safety concern really isn't the issue in my view, this really should be a given to everyone, it just seems many are quick to judge before they even have a partial conversation. Usually followed with "there should be a law..", as if passing enough laws, penalties and punishments we'll have some utopian society where everyone loves each other, nobody ever does anything dumb, nothing bad ever happens to those who don't deserve it, and Lucas wouldn't have screwed with the original Star Wars trilogy... Just not possible unfortunately.

Anything done in a car can be distracting and cause accidents.

I know people who should NEVER hold a conversation while in driving. They just can't do it without swerving all over the road, not paying attention to traffic, and not maintaining their speed. In fact holding a conversation with a passenger IMO is much more distracting for most people then anything else.

Anything can be done safely or unsafely while driving. Glance at your radio for more than 2-3 seconds and it becomes unsafe. Glance in the rear view mirror longer than 2-3 seconds and it becomes unsafe.

That being said , if you have a movie playing and once in a while glance at the screen for 2-3 seconds it is the EXACT same thing as the two previous mentioned scenarios.

A person has to be a safe driver no matter what the distractions are.

There is a difference between watching tv and listening to it. I have the TV on probably 95% of the time I am home. I have it on right now. I rarely ever watch it though. I can tell you what is going on, but I can barely tell you what things look like.

As for doing this in a car, it does depend on the conditions. 30+ hour drives on interstates it is good to have some background noise. With music you can fall asleep easier, talk radio or background talking, something without patterns, and you stay more alert.

I am having hard enough time keeping track of the monitor after 7 years of experience doing so... can't imagine actually watching tv..

Now if we can get a HUD projection we might have something.

But watching and driving is no joke.