OK Let me say it like this. If I or anyelse were to buy an indash cd/dvd head unit, how does one make it where the dvd played on the dash screen while the car was moving? I would do a search but I can honestly don't know what I'm asking for. Something like a ebrake switch disengage? Please help a ford brother out.

 

Some of them have a seperate ground that activates the screen when the ebrake is applied. Simply grounding that wire to either the radio ground wire or a chassis ground anywhere it will bypass the safety feature. (of course, that would be bad since you wouldn't be watching the road, and we know you'd never do it)

 

I find it pointless for the dvd feature to be disabled when the vehicle is moving when navigation units cause just as much a distraction. Anyway, what's the wife going to do, have to sit in the back to watch a dvd? I understand the safety concerns for a dvd, but really.

 

Really?? You think that a DVD playing and the Navigation system causes the same amount of distraction? I have to disagree with you there. I think it’s a bad idea to have a DVD playing in the front of the car, that’s all I need is someone watching TV as they are coming up behind me at a red light.

I have heard of keeping the kids occupied on trips, but this is the first time I have heard of someone wanting to keep their wife occupied on a trip.

But…. The best wife is a quiet wife….

My 2˘

 

I know better than to look at anything but the road when I drive. My family's saferty is #1. So staring at a dvd or nav or a spot you're picking at on the dash isn't equally as distractive? Anyway, I just wanted to know if it could be done.

 

I have the ALPINE IVA300 and while returning home, from college, for Thanksgiving, I was pulled over. I was speeding and I realize the risk of a ticket when I speed, but the officer pulled me over due to the DVD playing on the head unit. I put in a music DVD, concert DVD and just listen to it. I could listen to a CD or the radio, but I enjoy the looks from others as they watch the screen from their car. But anyway, the officer told me he would have normally just let me pass but the viewing of a TV screen is agaist the law (and unsafe). I got a ticket for speeding and a written warning for the screen.

I still watch it, and speed, but I am more careful when I do both!

 

I'm sure you think that is real cute and all, getting looks from others (who probably think you're an idiot for trying to show off like that btw) but they are a serious distraction as proven by a fatal accident recently here in Alaska. A 22 year old was driving his truck down one of our coastal highways with the dvd player going (same model as yours oddly enough) when he drifted into the center lane and colided with a focus that was heading in the opposite direction. The conditions were clear, the road was dry, and there was no reason for what happened to happen, so when they officers at the scene discovered the dvd player in the car they took the truck back and did some tests. Low and behold the unit had been tampered with so it could display movies while the unit was in motion, and had in fact been playing a movie when the accident occured. Both passengers in the focus were killed, and the driver of the truck was convicted of manslaughter and is in jail now along with his buddy who was convicted of purgry and tampering with evidence. Just something to think about next time you're out trying to look cool.

 

Actually, you don't have to tamper with the units to make them play DVDs while you are moving. All you simply do is ground the ebrake wire, which it TELLS ME TO DO in my instructions if you cannot or are unsure of how to hook it up to the ebrake.

 

And yet most states have laws against doing just that.

 

I think I'll call my congressman and inform him of the distraction dangers with navigation systems lots of auto manufacturers are installing on their cars as well as all the aftermarket ones readily available. They pose distraction problems just as much as do indash dvd units. Hell, think about it. Where am I? Stare at nav unit. Crash, kill a family of 5. Same as playing a dvd. A kid driver will not have the responsibility to keep his eyes on the road compared to that of an adult. So why not make it where nobody can do it. The man has too much control. Soon we'll be back to sock puppets on trips like we had when I was a kid. Nobody will die when I do get a dvd receiver and play a dvd in my car.

 

Obviously you don’t have a navigation system. You seem to think that there is the same amount of danger with the both and you are wrong. When you look at the navigation system, you glance at it. You're not looking for what’s going to happen next. Plus half the time if you have a destination planned into the navigation system, the navigation voice will direct you, there’s no need to stare at a navigation system unless you’re a complete moron. Yet, if there is something playing on a DVD that requires your attention, what are the chances that you are going to just glance at it? None, you’re going to want to watch what’s going on. I don’t know who you are telling, and is believing you, that the two systems have THE SAME amount of danger to them, but they too have never utilized a navigation system. If you do happen to have used a navigation system and have been staring at it, please refer to the aforementioned moron comment.


I agree with JohnnyCaskAK

 

Namecalling. Good move. I haven't called any names and won't. We're entitled to our opinions, and mine happens to differ from yours, so you namecall. Who in their right mind would watch a dvd while driving? I won't. I am not an (insert negative name here). Driving necessitates full concentration. Distractions abound. Radio controls. Cell phones. Dropping your glasses. Infinite possibilities are possible. It is my opinion to think any form of distraction can have detrimental effects on driving attention. If we were to keep all distractions out of the vehicle by law, we would wear out a heck of a lot of walking shoes. A dvd player in the dash can possibly affect some person's attention, yes. So can nav, a soda can, the hula girl on the dash, a bud pointing out a fine female. So let's make everything bad, restricting all.

BTW, keep derogatory remarks to yourself and the world will be a brighter place.

 

If you believe a Nav system to be as distracting as a DVD player/screen then maybe you need to drive more vehicles. Start a vehicle with a Navigation system and it will state not to allow it to become a distraction. This is why if I need to use it (I drive a M-B for work frequently and just turned in a leased 3.5 RL and I frequently ride with a coworker with an AVIC-N2) I program it when I get in or have a passenger do it for me. The voice is what I need as it does it's job. A screen for a passenger I'm all for so I'm with you, but a driver busily watching a movie instead of the road, oh no. That is just as dangerous as street racing if not more so since some people actually pay attention to the road during a race. And I'm an equal opportunity hater, if I see a woman doing her makeup so help me god I lose control. It's the same thing, watching a movie and applying eyeliner require attention a voice saying turn left in 100...50...20...10 feet does not and is not in the same league.

As to the radio argument, I have no need to look at the radio while driving, the remote has a button to advance tracks and volume and switch sources and I can feel the buttons without needing to look. As to cell phones, that is why most states are requiring earpieces.

Good luck with the congress option because that argument would be laughed off the Senate sub-committee as not only is the logic flawed but who donates more to Congressional leaders....Pioneer and Alpine who could care less as the units will sell anyway, or Ford, GM, Honda and Daimler/Chrysler who are actively pursuing ways to cover their butts on a factory Nav. option. Good luck with that.

Oh and to Zaairman, does your unit have an opening message telling you not to watch the unit while in motion or was it in the instructions? Curious because that would be the first that I have ever seen. And yes I'm serious I do want to know since I have seen instructions like yours but never did they come without a serious warning against it.
Not trying to be an *** to you guys but I volunteered with the F.D. for quite awhile and have scooped brains off the street because of things like this. So it makes me quite hostile and defensive. End Rant.

 

Holy Cow! My posts are being broadcasted to the World? Well, if that’s the case I want to give a shout-out to Aunt Lisa in Tampa, Cousin Lou in Philly and Aunt Tammy in Cali…..

Please re-read my post, I didn’t call you a moron…people who stare at the navigation would be considered a moron (unless you are that person, then yea I did)

If moron was too harsh a word for you then be glad you didn’t read the post where someone was told to “go pound sand up their ***”.

If I hurt your feelings for typing the word moron, I am sorry. If I offend you in the future then grab some Kleenex next to your lube and wipe the little tear away. And just to make sure, I want to apologize in advance to you and Aunt Lisa for the next post I type the word moron in.

Opinions, opinions, opinions, I gave mine….

If you think I will believe that if you have a DVD player in the dash of your car and will not watch it while driving, at one point or another….you must think I am a moron….great, just great, now you made me cry.

 

Wow, you guys are great. Txfordlover, I know for a fact there has been more brainscraping on the highways for distractions other than this. And peladu, chill out. You make excellent arguments and then obliviously express your age with ridiculous anecdotes. The world IS watching.