[aprssig] Driving Safely was [APRS path in Western PA....]

[Stan - N0YXV]

I'd have to agree with the use of the D700 with tiny keys. I guess my point
is that what once was deemed dangerous can over time take on a new meaning.
Like the use of your AM/FM radio...that was once almost outlawed in cars
because of the distraction factor. Don't like the way some people use Cell
Phones in cars but then again I don't like people that are reaching for the
CD on the floor on the passengers side of the car either. Then again there
are those drivers that you could take every distraction away from and they
wouldn't get any better. While there is so much complaining (mostly
justified) about people using Cell Phones where are the complaints about
somebody turning up their AM/FM radio and driving badly? Or the mother
paying more attention to the baby in the back seat? What I would really love
to see is drivers better educated about ALL forms of distraction.

[Warning Soap Box on]
Currently in Nebraska you only have to study for a license once and then
you're allowed to drive for 99+ years without ever taking another test
(other than eye test). As long as you don't lose your license you'll never
have to really know the rules of the road again. Even if I lose all but one
point on my license I can still get another one without taking any written
or driving tests. I suspect it's similar in other states.
[Soap Box off] :-)

I'm basically not disagreeing with you just trying to make people think of
distractions in broader terms than just a Cell Phone, Ham Radio or an APRS
display (had to through that in for relevance). :-)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org
> [mailto:aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org]On Behalf Of Dave Baxter
> Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2006 3:54 AM
> To: TAPR APRS Mailing List
> Subject: RE: [aprssig] APRS path in Western PA....
>
>
> Stan.
>
> I think in that context, some research (hopefully) has been done on the
> ergonomics of using controls for wipers, lights on vehicles etc.  To all
> but the least experienced driver, use of those controls would be almost
> autonomous, requiring little in the way of thinking what and how.
>
> Use of a radio, specificaly tapping buttons on someting like a D7 and
> focusing to read the tiny display *will* significantly distract even the
> most experienced driver, increasing the risk of having a "moving vehicle
> incident".
>
> I'm sure your law enforcement agencies would take an equaly dim view of
> you, if that happened, and they figured out you were not concentrating
> on the task in hand, driving your vehicle.
>
> The D700 may have an easier to read display, but entering commands and
> messages is just as fiddly as with a D7 IMO.
>
> 73.
>
> Dave G0WBX.