West Va. to preemptively ban Google Glasses while driving

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Guevara

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In short, a West Virginia lawmaker wants to outlaw the wearing of head-mounted displays while driving in his state. The devices would join other banned electronic communication devices like cell phones. The bill, while perhaps a bit laughable at first, is logical and smart. It makes a lot more sense than banning the use of Google Glass in dive bars.

The story goes that CNET’s early Google Glass hands-on prompted the proposed legislation. CNET’s Chris Matyszczyk reached out to the bill’s sponsor, Gary G. Howell, a Republican in the West Virginia Legislature, who thankfully isn’t an ignorant Luddite. He’s just sensible.

I actually like the idea of the product and I believe it is the future, but last legislature we worked long and hard on a no-texting-and-driving law. It is mostly the young that are the tech-savvy that try new things. They are also our most vulnerable and underskilled drivers. We heard of many crashes caused by texting and driving, most involving our youngest drivers. I see the Google Glass as an extension.​

Texting while driving is dangerous, and while Google Glass is, well, less emasculating, it is still a distraction. Cars are already overloaded with gadgets and screens. They have their own heads-up displays, countless dials and, worse yet, slow and unresponsive infotainment systems that seemingly control more of the vehicle with each new iteration.

If you’re driving, that’s what you should be doing. Facebook can wait.
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http://techcrunch.com/2013/03/24/west-virginia-lawmaker-seeks-to-ban-drivers-from-wearing-head-mounted-displays-like-google-glass/
 
not having ever used them they seem distracting. I think Josh mentioned they are at first but you get used to it rather quickly
 
Surely it's the same as using a HUD display when flying.

Its better to have your eyes looking at the window then at your Dash GPS.
 
If were going to ban things that may be distracting while driving I can think of a long list of things that need to go before we worry about a product that's not even out yet.
 
Can we have texting drivers have a mandatory jail term though.

Those people are the worst.

Texting-While-Driving.jpg
 
I think the problem here is that while the Glass gps function seems perfect for driving, Glass potentially does a lot of other stuff that would give drivers a reason to fart around while driving. And wouldn't it be a simple matter to use a cell device in the car to generate a mobile wifi hotspot for Glass anyway? That would make it very usable on the road.

People already focus on cell and smartphones too much while driving. Augmented reality spectacles could invite greater distraction - people will rationalize "I'm looking at the road all the time, it's much safer". Then proceed to distract themselves with various Glass applications outside gps functionality.
 
Krakatoa said:
Surely it's the same as using a HUD display when flying.

Its better to have your eyes looking at the window then at your Dash GPS.
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Yeah but your average driver is not a fighter pilot. We don't need to make data easier for them to process; we need to keep them from being distracted in the first place.
 
I'd rather have it banned from driving. Rather not have some asshole hit my car because he was too busy messing with his new gadget then pay attention to the road.

Foxy Fox 39 said:
Google glasses will have a driving mode where notifications/distractions are kept to a minimum.
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Doesn't mean people will take advantage of it.
 
Malvolio said:
If were going to ban things that may be distracting while driving I can think of a long list of things that need to go before we worry about a product that's not even out yet.
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This is perfectly consistent with banning things that are distracting while driving. WV also bans cellphones while driving already, because they are distracting. This is consistent with that, and expected IMO. I expect to see bans on GGlass in most if not all scenarios where cellphone/smartphones are currently banned.
 
I'm not sure how I feel about this. On one hand it makes sense that a distraction isn't good while driving. However, is talking via handsfree or toggling the radio any less distracting? With glass your eyes are always forward. At least you can see what's in front of you.

A driving mode where my speed, and GPS were displayed shouldn't cause crashes any more than looking at your speed and gps currently causes crashes.

This is of course predicated on the notion that everyone would behave responsible with their glasses if driving. i.e. not streaming pron while on the expressway.
 
Yeah they should just make it so that it's illegal to not be using a "driving mode" while driving
 
Divvy said:
Yeah they should just make it so that it's illegal to not be using a "driving mode" while driving
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But how could you possibly police that? It would only be useful to prove fault after an accident has occurred (assuming Glasses record system settings).
 
This is stupid. Like banning blue tooth headsets or GPS' before they even exist. Ban a behavior, like distracted driving (a ban which already exists). And if a head mounted display fits that criteria then it enforce it normally. Just don't start banning products that aren't even out b/c you perceive them as maybe being a problem.
 
It's a stupid law. Technically we should be banned from doing anything other than driving in a vehicle. No more drinking, no more drive-troughs because it's a distraction. Hell, let's ban talking because my mother can't talk without looking at the person...

Ridiculous.
 
Dr.Acula said:
This is stupid. Like banning blue tooth headsets or GPS' before they even exist. Ban a behavior, like distracted driving (a ban which already exists). And if a head mounted display fits that criteria then it enforce it normally. Just don't start banning products that aren't even out b/c you perceive them as maybe being a problem.
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They're basically adding this to the list of products already banned as part of the state's no no-texting-and-driving law:

The proposed legislation would lump head-mounted displays in with cell phones and other electronic devices currently banned from using while operating a motor vehicle.​
 
Guevara said:
But how could you possibly police that? It would only be useful to prove fault after an accident has occurred (assuming Glasses record system settings).
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Well, you could make driving GPS mode automatically lock out all other functions. Give driving mode other features and a specificly optimised UI outside of "find coffee shop" mode so that drivers would want to use it.

Or, have glass piggyback off a true GPS device and when doing so, lock out all other functions.

The question is how you'd make sure drivers are only ever using GPS mode behind the wheel.

I can't think of anything elegant. Turning on based on user speed doesn't make sense for transit users. Some kind of car keyfob/google glass link only works for cars with modern electronics.

Then the issue is how can police identify what mode you use. Some kind of log, which google has access to and the courts can get with a request?

That sounds big brotherish and like a privacy violation. Although we all know for a fact google will be tracking all this stuff regardless...
 
Guevara said:
But how could you possibly police that? It would only be useful to prove fault after an accident has occurred (assuming Glasses record system settings).
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Actually as these systems become more sophisticated and interlock, I could image a legal requirement for the computers in modern vehicles to have bluetooth. They communicate with any Glass-class devices, it's made into a standard. And when you're in the car, and it's in gear, the car's computer commands your AR device to enter driving mode.

If you park, you can then use full functionality even if the engine is on.

Edit: fyi, I'm not so sure measures against certain devices while driving are invasions of privacy. It's not considered an invasion of privacy to require a license to drive a car. Cars are dangerous to the public and require some degree of regulation.
 
Kaijima said:
Actually as these systems become more sophisticated and interlock, I could image a legal requirement for the computers in modern vehicles to have bluetooth. They communicate with any Glass-class devices, it's made into a standard. And when you're in the car, and it's in gear, the car's computer commands your AR device to enter driving mode.

If you park, you can then use full functionality even if the engine is on.
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But until then banning them wouldn't seem entirely unreasonable.
 
I support this ban as its like you looking in the rear view mirror except you just see whats behind you and then look forward. Information gathering is much more distracting and a driver can easily get distracted by information and look away for more than 5 seconds. Sure some people can handle resisting it but some don't and that is what will cause a crash. When your focus shifts from a wide view to a small view which requires peripheral focus on the top right hand side, it will be distracting no matter how you want to justify it

If you think people will ignore the temptation to use it only for gps you are wrong
 
Guevara said:
But how could you possibly police that? It would only be useful to prove fault after an accident has occurred (assuming Glasses record system settings).
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Well, what's to stop people from watching videos on their phones or tablets while driving? Also, at least with Glass people can dictate their texts and have them read out to you as opposed to having to type or read for sms communication.
 
what if your google glasses are attached to prescription glasses? How will they enforce that? You could just tell the cop they are actually off. Or turn them off as the cop is pulling you over.

I don't mean to pick at this decision as it's probably a good idea.
 
I don't have a problem with this. I've seen enough fucktards drifting across lanes or through pedestrian crossings because they're texting to not trust people to police themselves in this field. If it can be used to read email or watch a video while driving, people are going to do it.
 
Old men want to ban and or restrict new technology they don't understand? Shocking!

Fuck California for banning windshield mounts too.
 
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