Alberta passes distracted driving law

[EldrickOnIce]

Android Auto has reduced my distracted driving to zero. I always refused to text while driving, but as a frequent maps user, not having to look down at phone screen on console is really nice, and voice control for other functions, while not perfect, is good enough to never consider touching the phone while driving.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Android Auto has reduced my distracted driving to zero. I always refused to text while driving, but as a frequent maps user, not having to look down at phone screen on console is really nice, and voice control for other functions, while not perfect, is good enough to never consider touching the phone while driving.

Android Auto is great, sometimes the voice commands don't work that well, for example instead of using call <name> because Android auto will come back with "Who's you're <name>" if you have multiple contacts. Which is hilarious when I tell it to call my Dad and my car comes back with "Who's your Dad"

Instead for some reason using the term Dial works better.

The text to voice/voice to text works great.

I guess the one thing that would be nice for Google Maps, unless I'm missing something would be the ability to store addresses for your contacts.

it would be nice to Navigate to Dad.

[Fuzz]

Try adding your dad's address in Google Contacts.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Almost every vehicle made over the last ten years has hands free but I see a surprising amount of people in late model vehicles still talking into their phone.

As well as automatic lights but every night I still see people phantom driving down the road.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

I don't get that nor do I believe it, for one, talking on a phone isn't really the problem(SM and texting is) and two, what idiot would rather not use hands free to talk?

Many people think hands free means ears free, as they put their phone on speaker and hold it at their chest.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Try adding your dad's address in Google Contacts.

I tried that in both my google contacts, and phone contacts list and the navigate to couldn't find him.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Try adding your dad's address in Google Contacts.

Yup. If address is in your Google contacts (will require sync if just adding), say 'navigate to' or 'take me to' [contact name] and it will open navigation to that address.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I tried that in both my google contacts, and phone contacts list and the navigate to couldn't find him.

Hmm. I use this all the time. Previously, you had to say 'take me to' but now either should work.
Unless android is still confused about who's your daddy...

[bc-chris]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Yeah I find it's middle aged men that are the ones that talk on their phones the most and females of all ages that are the worst offenders when it comes to texting and driving. I don't know how many times at intersections you hear people having to honk their horns because a woman is paying attention to her phone rather than the lights. I think distracted driving is one of those offenses that someone has to get stung by a big fine to get it into their heads.

i know in kelowna the local news has done stories when the rcmp do crack downs. one of the questions the reporter asked the cop was what demographic were getting fines. his reply was almost all the tickets he had given out were to women. now that doesn't mean that guys don't use their phones while driving, just that one that particular day during an enforcement blitz it was women who were getting caught.

i still maintain that the easiest deterrent would be to get the driver to get out of the car, put the phone under their front tire and drive forward. of course they'd have to stop and pick up the pieces, otherwise they would get a ticket for littering!

i'm soooooo not a cell phone user. i had to get one when my dad was sick so my mom could get a hold of me if i needed to come right away, but that's the only reason i have one. i do admit it's nice to be able to send my wife a text when i'm at superstore to ask if there is anything else she wants added to "the list", but i'm quite happy without one. it's not uncommon for me to be heading out and i hear, "do you have your phone?"... and then i have to head back inside and grab it off the window ledge that it sits on. at least now i usually remember to plug it in so it's charged!

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

count me as someone who is in favour of increasing the fines for distracted driving,. i'd even be happy to ehar that CPS dedicates a team of officers who drive around all day and bust distracted drivers.

i can't count how many times i have been on deerfoot and someone is doing 80, or having issues staying in their lane, you finally pass them and they are on their phone.

a few time si have been behind a guy at a red light on hsi phone and i wanted to honk, but i'd feel like a complete tool if the guy just went and it caused an accident.

I'd like to be able to receive a small bounty for snapping pics of distracted drivers while I am a passenger in a car or bus. Citizen power!

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Hmm. I use this all the time. Previously, you had to say 'take me to' but now either should work.
Unless android is still confused about who's your daddy...

I will be honest, I want to change my dads contact name to Daddy, because a phone asking me who's my daddy would be hilarious and skynetesque at the same time.

[speede5]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

As well as automatic lights but every night I still see people phantom driving down the road.

I rented a new Jeep for my summer trip to BC and was caught doing this a couple times. All my vehicles have had auto lights for ages. Had to retrain myself.

Don't understand why all the OEM's can't get this one figured out.

[FlamesKickAss]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

As well as automatic lights but every night I still see people phantom driving down the road.

This is one of my biggest pet peeves when driving at night and in the rain. So frustrating.

Why don't they just make it so there is no option. Vehicle running, lights on. Or just make them auto, no selector to take that off. And then when the wiper are on then the lights are on.

[CaptainCrunch]

I have automatic lights but don't use them.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

This is one of my biggest pet peeves when driving at night and in the rain. So frustrating.

Why don't they just make it so there is no option. Vehicle running, lights on. Or just make them auto, no selector to take that off. And then when the wiper are on then the lights are on.

Oh god, I had a rental Ford that did this. The wipers were on automatic and it was not really raining. It took me awhile to figure out why my dash lights would dim every time my wipers activated, then go bright again! But ya, headlights and tail lights should just be on all the time.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

This is one of my biggest pet peeves when driving at night and in the rain. So frustrating.

Why don't they just make it so there is no option. Vehicle running, lights on. Or just make them auto, no selector to take that off. And then when the wiper are on then the lights are on.

There are instances when you may need to turn the lights off when your vehicle is running. But in general I do agree that the default should always be to have them on each time the ignition is turned on.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

Why don't they just make it so there is no option. Vehicle running, lights on. Or just make them auto, no selector to take that off.

Pretty sure the powers that be are considering that. Heard something along those lines on the radio the other day.

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I will be honest, I want to change my dads contact name to Daddy, because a phone asking me who's my daddy would be hilarious and skynetesque at the same time.

Then at this point, you might as well add your dad into your contact as "Daddy and what does he do?"

[speede5]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

I have automatic lights but don't use them.

I don't even have the option in my truck. Off is auto.