Bill Matthies

Better Drivers or Bigger Brother?
December 6, 2007

I recently leased a new Buick Enclave equipped with touchscreen radio and navigation including XM.

After driving it awhile I learned that certain XM and navigation functionality was disabled while the vehicle was in motion — specifically the ability to access different XM channel categories and/or stations beyond those in view when the vehicle started to move, as well as the ability to input a destination in navigation. However, the problem was solved with the addition of a product made by a small Florida aftermarket company, Coastal Electronic Technologies.

To those of you who might think me socially irresponsible due to the danger of driving while fiddling with the radio and navigation, you may be right, but let me ask you this: What about all the other things I can do while driving, such as raising/lowering radio volume, changing stations among those I can see, zooming the navigation map in or out, enabling/disabling POI’s? Or for that matter raising/lowering the electric windows, changing the temperature, adjusting the mirrors or my seat position? How about the fact that I can adjust the steering wheel position while driving??

It all comes down to a fear of lawsuits manufacturers have when the inevitable accidents occur, the result of drivers not paying attention to driving. I get it, but what I don’t get is the selective logic that is used regarding what a driver can and cannot do while driving.

My aftermarket work-around notwithstanding, you watch, this isn’t over. I predict increasing debate regarding what drivers should be able to do/not do leading to more attempts to legislate communication/entertainment/convenience/security products in vehicles.

Bill Matthies is the president of Coyote Insight (www.coyoteinsight.com) and can be reached at (714) 726-2901 or wmatthies@coyoteinsight.com

Posted by Bill Matthies on December 6, 2007 | Comments (0)