ministers dictate on sat nav on a phone.

Forums › GPS, maps and mapping software › ministers dictate on sat nav on a phone.

jerryvarghese

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#42004 28-Sep-2009 06:55

"The Transport Ministry has clarified the terms of a new law that restricts the use of cellphones in cars, saying that from November it will be illegal to use a mobile phone as a satellite navigation aid while driving".

I cant understand why it would be illegal to use sat nav on a phone when these restriction does not apply to navigation systems that do not have a mobile phone function

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

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Inactive user

#258842 28-Sep-2009 07:00

I've just read this as well @_@

What exactly is the law trying to do? I can use a cellphone connected to a hands free kit in my car and I can use a non-cellphone capable GPS/SatNav system in my car.

There is no reason can I not use both so why can they not be in a single unit?

If the phone is appropriately mounted and has an acceptable hands free kit then what is the difference?

jerryvarghese

10 posts

Wannabe Geek

#258845 28-Sep-2009 07:08

Is it the minister who is ill informed or is this political lobbing by Sat Nav companies (American style?!!)

Wade

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#258848 28-Sep-2009 07:16

Lol, rather than reverse this decision they will probably outlaw any portable GPS.

I have an Okta Touch with Tomtom Navigator installed plus a Tomtom One, granted I use the one in the car and the phone more as a mapbook, planner more so than a turn by turn GPS but other than a smaller screen 2.7" vs 3.5" the function/useability is near on identical.

I could understand if you could only use a phone based GPS if it was securely mounted to dash or windscreen but a complete ban is another case of "bureaucracy gone completely wrong"

friedCrumpet

271 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#258858 28-Sep-2009 07:58

It's probably a case of enforcement. They don't want you using the other functions of the phone while driving so if a cop was to pull you up, it would be very easy to switch your phone onto GPS mode and claim you were using that and "not browsing the web sir".

Either way, you could still probably use your device if it had a voice directions mode? The only thing is you'd have to pull over if you wanted to check the map...

kyhwana2

2572 posts

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#258873 28-Sep-2009 08:59

Does anyone have a link to the actual legislation for this?

BrentR

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Trusted

#258885 28-Sep-2009 09:34

http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/rules/docs/road-user-amendment-rule-2009.pdf

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mpvincent

83 posts

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#258900 28-Sep-2009 10:03

Theres a petition on

http://www.iphonewzealand.co.nz/2009/all/iphone-gps-illegal/

for people who dont agree.

Mike.

mpvincent

83 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#258901 28-Sep-2009 10:03

Theres a petition on

http://www.iphonewzealand.co.nz/2009/all/iphone-gps-illegal/

for people who dont agree.

Mike.

Buttonmash

361 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#258933 28-Sep-2009 11:13

Ugh.. Government and technology. What a horrible mix.

Our old TomTom which I sold in order to use the TomTom car kit for iPhone allowed you to pair with your phone and use it as a hands free kit, make and receive calls and texts or play media from your iPod.

I'm not sure how exactly this would differ from an iPhone doing the EXACT same thing in one device. But there you go.

lotech

126 posts

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#258935 28-Sep-2009 11:15

Arghhhh! Bad luck to people who spend $120 on a sat nav app for the iPhone.
They've made this more confusing than clearer by saying this - it seems they meant apps like Google Maps but have worded it so it catches navigation apps too. I completely agree that Maps should not be usable but it would seem to be a double standard to include TomTom or Sygic when you can use the same thing on a different object.
I hope the media pick up on this, at least to the point where someone points out that 'Maps' and 'TomTom' are two very different things on your phone.

geekzone.co.nz/lotech

Tockly

353 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#258940 28-Sep-2009 11:25

What a load of....

I was driving around in the South Island this weekend, with the GPS on my iPhone and found it great. With a quick glance across I could see what the road was like ahead, sharp corner etc, and adjust my speed to suit.

To make these illegal is just crap. Won't stop me using one.

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VFNZPaulBrislen

970 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#258947 28-Sep-2009 11:36

Hi all, as I said in the other thread, Vodafone fully supports this law change but we are seeking some clarity around this particular point. It seems a bit at odds with the safer driving message to me.

cheers

paul

Paul Brislen
Head of Corporate Communications
Vodafone

http://forum.vodafone.co.nz

mruane

420 posts

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#258982 28-Sep-2009 13:31

Would it be true to say that if you were to put your phone in "Airplane Mode" before the journey, then you are not using a "mobile phone" to host a GPS system - right? A mobile phone in airplane mode is surely just a receiver and not a "mobile telephone" any longer.

Of course, if they outlaw GPS receivers then we are up the creek!

Cheers Mike

dman

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#259083 28-Sep-2009 18:28

Good, just hearing on the 6 o'clock news right now that they will be amending the draft of the law to make sure that phones usage in a car will not be illegal if it is handsfree and touched infrequently.

https://www.youtube.com/c/SoundSpeeding

coffeebaron

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Lifetime subscriber

#259088 28-Sep-2009 18:49

Hmmm, phone with GPS voice navigation...
or, hold a map on the steering wheel??

I guess if you setup the GPS before you start driving & it just happens to stay running, then they don't really have anything o you.

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