Will Vodafone Compass be effectively pointless after Nov 1?

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3g

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#42006 28-Sep-2009 08:45

Maybe I had missed this info, but according to an article on stuff.

"You can use a mobile phone held in a cradle while driving, but only to make, receive or terminate a phone call. You cannot use them in any other way, such as reading a GPS map, reading email or consulting an electronic diary."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/2907464/SatNav-phones-will-be-illegal-Govt

I've got a dedicated GPS unit, but have to admit the integration with Yellow makes Vodafone Compass a pretty amazing app. I've put it head-to-head with my dedicated unit, and found (probably due to the constantly updated maps with Compass) that Compass seems to work as well, if not better.

Thoughts?

NH

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#258896 28-Sep-2009 09:55

so how is using a GPS on a phone any worse than on a dedicated unit? Same goes for MP3 players.

imadog

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#258902 28-Sep-2009 10:08

Sounds like a badly drafted law which will have to be rewritten in a couple of years due to the all in one nature that music /mobile / gps / nav devices are evolving into.

I see no difference between a dedicated nav device and an iPhone in cradle operating with TomTom maps.

Ham

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#258904 28-Sep-2009 10:11

Only difference I see is that a phone/GPS combo is more likely to be mounted lower down on the dash not up on the windshield.. Maybe Tomtom and other developers will have to disable the phone function when GPS is in use??

Aaroona

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#258907 28-Sep-2009 10:13

allstarnz: so how is using a GPS on a phone any worse than on a dedicated unit? Same goes for MP3 players.

+1

unless they're going to make GPS units illegal, or the operation of them while driving.

i should think as long as your mobile phone is mounted correctly, you should be fine.'

Like Alistar said above; How is it any different?

VFNZPaulBrislen

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#258919 28-Sep-2009 10:39

We're going to ask for some clarity around it and I'll let you know if/when we hear back...

but I must say (personally) it looks a bit odd. I can put a phone in a cradle and use it as a phone. I can put a sat nav device in a cradle and use it as a sat nav but I can't put a device in a cradle and use it as a sat nav if it also has phone capability...

The way the world's moving, most sat nav devices will have some form of comms built in if only so as to receive traffic updates. Would that be illegal as well?

I wouldn't like to see this law stranded as technology moves past it... it's too important for that.

cheers

Paul

Aaroona

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#258922 28-Sep-2009 10:42

PaulBrislen: We're going to ask for some clarity around it and I'll let you know if/when we hear back...

but I must say (personally) it looks a bit odd. I can put a phone in a cradle and use it as a phone. I can put a sat nav device in a cradle and use it as a sat nav but I can't put a device in a cradle and use it as a sat nav if it also has phone capability...

The way the world's moving, most sat nav devices will have some form of comms built in if only so as to receive traffic updates. Would that be illegal as well?

I wouldn't like to see this law stranded as technology moves past it... it's too important for that.

cheers

Paul

Thanks Paul, will be interesting to see the official answer to that.

I would only assume it's a no brainer, but then, 90% of assumptions are usually wrong.

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jamesvini

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#258931 28-Sep-2009 11:11

All we need is a car that drives its self and then we will be free to use any device we like.
Even a Microwave

My Opinion not anybody elses.

Ham

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#258937 28-Sep-2009 11:22

Maybe it's there as a tool for the police.. Example; Constable Bacon pulls victim over for texting and driving, victim says "I wasn't texting I was making a calendar entry"

Then without this part of the law the officer is theoretically powerless.

The law needs to be a simple "Driving while distracted" to remove all confusion.

tonyhughes

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#258939 28-Sep-2009 11:24

Aaroona: 90% of assumptions are usually wrong.

Is that a fact you can cite, or just an assumption (lol).

76% of statistics are simply made up.

Aaroona

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#258943 28-Sep-2009 11:31

tonyhughes:
Aaroona: 90% of assumptions are usually wrong.

Is that a fact you can cite, or just an assumption (lol).

76% of statistics are simply made up.

I've got loads of statistics to back it up! Chances are though, they're wrong as well. lol

VFNZPaulBrislen

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#258944 28-Sep-2009 11:32

It's a positive change and we fully support the law... we're just seeking clarification on this point... It's a tricky area.

cheers

Paul

Paul Brislen
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Vodafone

http://forum.vodafone.co.nz

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Buttonmash

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#258945 28-Sep-2009 11:33

I'm not sure what they hope to accomplish.

My old TomTom would send and receive texts, phone calls when paired with my phone. How different is this really?

Our government so regularly stuffs up technology legislation it makes me worry about the rest of it ;).

Handsomedan

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#258950 28-Sep-2009 11:41

I guess that thing that is really concerning is that this will not address the people that are busy leaning over their Sat Nav's cradle tapping in a new address, whilst trying to drive on the motorway.

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ockel

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#258951 28-Sep-2009 11:48

It is fairly common for SatNav units to have agreement or disclaimer pages on startup that dictate that the user agrees not to use the device while driving and that the manufacturer accepts no liability for any accidents caused by distraction.
Essentially you are only supposed to (as the driver) operate the SatNav while you're stationary. The proposed law for mobile phones (as SatNav devices) sounds like it would be consistent with SatNav usage while driving. Until GPS software manufacturers for phones add a page similar to their SatNav counterparts then its likely the Govt will need to spell out usage restrictions on devices.

And while the SatNav page is there it doesnt really change driver behaviour in using the devices while driving but it does highlight it cant be used as an excuse for distraction. I imagine phones will be in the same category.....

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TinyTim

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#258955 28-Sep-2009 12:05

Ham:
The law needs to be a simple "Driving while distracted" to remove all confusion.

There are already the dangerous driving laws which cover this. Making a law that explicitly covers mobile phone use sends more of a direct message to phone-using drivers that what they're doing is dangerous.

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