I've been thinking a lot about distracted driving ever since the Telematics Detroit conference. I just returned from a Washington D.C. road trip and was thinking of telematics distractions today vs. the last time I road tripped it from Detroit to D.C., back in the 80s. You decide the level of safety gained from telematics.
Radio - Last week we had Pandora on and we went from state to state without a break in our music. In the 80s, you had to take a hand off the wheel and turn the dial on the car radio to find a new station by metro area that fit your liking.
Traffic - Last week we followed the green/yellow/red shading on the GPS without more than 1-2 seconds of our eyes being off the road. In the 80s, you had to once again take your hand off the steering wheel, turn the radio to AM and turn the dial to find a traffic report.
Routing - Last week we used the GPS on our iPhones and in 10 seconds we had our whole route mapped from door to door. In the 80s, I remember my mom unfolding the AAA trip tick maps that took up the whole passenger seat, blocked driver mirrors and the sight of the road.
Phone - Last week we used our iPhone. Super easy, voice calling with no hands or eyes off the road. In the 80s, I remember my dad had a briefcase phone that would charge for a half hour, have an antenna that went on the roof and you had to dial the phone.
Backseat entertainment - Last week we had the DVD player, iPad for gaming and social media, along with the traditional books and coloring books to pass the time. In the 80s, the whole family played "find the VW bug," "where's that truck from" and of course we had our books and dolls and endless noise that I'm sure caused a distraction.
The blast from the past definitely made me laugh and made me thankful for the safety improvements that telematics bring to the road. Share your then and now story and keep the walk down memory lane going.
Posted by Margaret Zewatsky, Product Strategist, Polk (07.15.2011)
Radio - Last week we had Pandora on and we went from state to state without a break in our music. In the 80s, you had to take a hand off the wheel and turn the dial on the car radio to find a new station by metro area that fit your liking.
Traffic - Last week we followed the green/yellow/red shading on the GPS without more than 1-2 seconds of our eyes being off the road. In the 80s, you had to once again take your hand off the steering wheel, turn the radio to AM and turn the dial to find a traffic report.Routing - Last week we used the GPS on our iPhones and in 10 seconds we had our whole route mapped from door to door. In the 80s, I remember my mom unfolding the AAA trip tick maps that took up the whole passenger seat, blocked driver mirrors and the sight of the road.
Phone - Last week we used our iPhone. Super easy, voice calling with no hands or eyes off the road. In the 80s, I remember my dad had a briefcase phone that would charge for a half hour, have an antenna that went on the roof and you had to dial the phone.
Backseat entertainment - Last week we had the DVD player, iPad for gaming and social media, along with the traditional books and coloring books to pass the time. In the 80s, the whole family played "find the VW bug," "where's that truck from" and of course we had our books and dolls and endless noise that I'm sure caused a distraction.
The blast from the past definitely made me laugh and made me thankful for the safety improvements that telematics bring to the road. Share your then and now story and keep the walk down memory lane going.
Posted by Margaret Zewatsky, Product Strategist, Polk (07.15.2011)
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