Recently, a California court made a decision regarding the case of California vs Sriggs. The defendant, Steven Sriggs, was pulled over and charged for operating a smartphone while driving, but he wasn't calling or texting anyone. He was looking at a map on his phone. Sriggs argued that since he was using his smart phone for mapping purposes, it shouldn't be counted as distracted driving (note that he was holding the phone in his hand). However, the California Court ruled that "This case requires us to determine whether using a wireless phone solely for its map application function while driving violates Vehicle Code section 23123. We hold that it does"
TIME magazine columnist Matt Peckham argues that everything is a distraction when driving. He mentions that "fiddling with the climate control or audio systems, changing CDs, glancing at a piece of paper with a handwritten address or scanning printed route directions." can all be distractions that can lead to accidents. In addition, he also mentions that "splashy billboards with advertising" can be a distraction as well. Matt Peckham also argues what is the real difference between glancing at your phone for direction and "GPS/mapping LCD screens that come built-into so many vehicle dashboards these days?"
So what do you think? Do you think the California court was justified in their ruling or was Sriggs justified for glancing at his phone for directions? What should be considered "distractions" while driving and possibly banned?
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7 comments:
I believe that Siggs' use of his phone while driving was definitely a driving hazard, as he did not have both of his hands on the wheel. Siggs may argue that he was neither talking nor texting on his phone, but even checking a map is considered a distraction. California Vehicle Code 23123 states that "A person shall not drive a motor vehicle while using a wireless telephone unless that telephone is specifically designed and configured to allow hands-free listening and talking, and is used in that manner while driving." Obviously, in order to use a GPS application on a phone the driver must use one of his/her hands to use the application. I believe that a "distraction" is anything that requires a driver to take one or two hands off the wheel, or something that completely attracts the attention of the driver. (An example would be if the driver were to be reading something while driving.)
I agree with the ruling simply because I think driving with one hand on the steering wheel can be dangerous (which I'm certainly guilty of, but I would like to make a distinction between holding a distracting object such as a phone as opposed to resting one hand or using it to change the radio, drink water, etc). Peckham is absolutely right, all of the things he listed are technically distracting, but their legality can be justified because they do not physically hamper a driver's dexterity. Thus, I would have no problem with a phone being used as a map as long as it is kept in a stationary position (like a GPS).
The ruling also makes life easier on law enforcement. Otherwise, everyone and their brother would text and then tell the cops "nah man, I was just checking out my maps, see?" when they get pulled over.
I agree with Olivia and Andrew; clearly, this is an area of concern for many drivers on the road who are prone to accidents by hazardous drivers occupied by a variety of distractions. Though checking a map is useful for directions, the driver would certainly need to pull over to prevent him/herself from being a danger to other fellow drivers (it requires a good amount of attention to examine a map, especially if you're in a relatively new area or are lost). Other alternatives include having someone in the passenger seat read directions aloud and examine the map for the driver (as I often do for my friend) and turning on the voice function of the phone to have it give directions via audio. This is also an area for devices such as dashboard mounts for smartphones to be invented (if they haven't been invented already) so that the phone may function as a stationary GPS, as Andrew mentioned, to allow the driver to use the map app hands-free.
I agree with the ruling, as well as everything people have said above. I would also add that a phone's screen is small and to use it, a person would have to hold it pretty close. People also tend to hold it low and off to the side and would look down to examine it. Not only does using the phone take the driver's hand off the wheel, it also takes his eyes and attention off the road. A GPS is different because it's generally bigger and clearer than the map on the phone, and it doesn't need to be held. It's positioned in a pretty convenient place, where the driver can look at it and still see the road. It also talks so the driver doesn't have to look at it so closely. I've found my GPS very easy to use and a quick glance at it doesn't take my attention off the road. In contrast, the times I've used my phone as a GPS, I have found it very distracting. It's hard to see, and often, I'd even need to punch in my passcode because it would lock itself.
I disagree with Olivia that having both hands on the wheel is uttermost important. When driving who actually uses both hands 24/7? I don't think anyone actually does, especially with power-steering in cars these days. However I do agree with everyone's comment about using the phone as being dangerous and wrong. It's like why cars now have bluetooth hooked up to the car, so people don't have to hold a distracting object. GPSs are not supposed to be held in your hand while you are driving. In reality you should have a holder to hold your phone if you're going to use it as a GPS. People never read paper maps while driving cars, right? And I totally agree with Andrew, people will do illegal things and just pull the "I'm using my maps" card.
This is interesting because at some point, a lost driver is going to be distracted while looking at a map. The only question is what kind of map this driver will be looking at. While the smartphone app is smaller than a GPS, the GPS is still a distraction while driving. I would be curious to see how law enforcement would react to a distracted driver looking at a paper map, like the printable Google maps. The printable map is arguably as distracting as looking at a smartphone or a GPS system. I agree with Tina that looking at the smartphone is difficult and I too have to type in my passcode because my phone locked itself. I think the decision was made to set a kind of precedent. Had the court ruled differently, drivers would've used the "I was looking at my maps" every time they were pulled over, as Andrew pointed out. I think there was no other way to specifically allow looking at maps, without ensuring that cell phones would only be looked at for the maps purpose. I would be interested to see statistics about car accidents after this ruling. I would expect that car accidents would go down, due to less driving distractions.
I'm not sure what Vehicle Code section 23123 says specifically but as a driver myself I have to say that I feel that the decision should have gone the other way. The argument of basically anything can be a distraction is a really good argument. It requires as much effort as me to look at my iPhone and ensure that I am going in the right direction as it takes for me to adjust the heater/A.C or look for something on the radio. However, I think that people should have the map readily available before they leave. This means that entering an address while driving SHOULD be illegal because it requires more attention than any of the other things - similar to texting. But the map feature of a smart phone is pretty essential to drivers. This decision won't affect me because I'll simply purchase an application that speaks to me making it hands free as I suggest anyone who agrees with me should.
As far as using two hands to drive, i've never actually seen anyone who has done this. I feel like people have more control over the wheel with one hand... but I guess that is up to personal preference.
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