Phoebe Vet Nothing you can program into your GPS will overcome stupidity.
Nothing you can program into your GPS will overcome stupidity.
What about the address to your local library?
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
I agree with most of what Wizlish said, until I got to the:
Wizlish... In my opinion it is the responsibility of the GPS user-interface designers and programmers to provide accurate guidance that does not distract a particular user from safe operation of the vehicle.
I think the responsibility lies with the one with their hands on the steering-wheel and foot on the gas pedal.
I am not saying that the designers/programmers should be allowed to be lackadaisical about what they produce, (and I have worked with some programmers that would only chuckle if their program caused any sort of problem), but the responsibility lies with the user to not allow the system to kill them.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
zugmann Phoebe Vet Nothing you can program into your GPS will overcome stupidity. What about the address to your local library?
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
GPS aside, if the old Mark I eyeball can't discern the difference between a railraod track and a road, you shouldn't be driving.
Norm
CSSHEGEWISCH My wife described a situation from the other day possibly involving GPS that could have resulted in a major accident. A driver was proceeding quite slowly in the left-hand lane of a major arterial street so she passed on the right. Immediately after she passed, the other driver made a sudden right turn onto a side street. Fortunately, there were no other cars immediately following. My wife guessed that the driver was unfamiliar with the area and overly dependent on GPS instructions. What ever happened to preparing in advance??
My wife described a situation from the other day possibly involving GPS that could have resulted in a major accident. A driver was proceeding quite slowly in the left-hand lane of a major arterial street so she passed on the right. Immediately after she passed, the other driver made a sudden right turn onto a side street. Fortunately, there were no other cars immediately following. My wife guessed that the driver was unfamiliar with the area and overly dependent on GPS instructions.
What ever happened to preparing in advance??
Again, the driver may have been totally unfamiliar with the area and was relying on sight and was expecting to turn left after finding the desired street.
Once, I was stopped for driving in the left lane, at the speed limit; I told the policeman that I was looking for a street on the left--he let me go. He had not stopped the people who were passing me on the right.
Johnny
Yes it might.
As for the serious gate runner who makes a habit of it nothing would help, but the casual and un-observent driver it might make a difference.
For the cost, (nothing to the consumer) what could it hurt?
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i-Zombies be i-Zombies. The dumb button pushers ought to be banned from using any electronic devices in a moving vehicle whilst behind the wheel. (A mobile GPS/GIS Garmin unit was blamed by the the driver as the cause of distraction in the recent draw bridge incident. The GIS unit was at fault? aw, cmon....)
Murphy Siding Library? What's that? It's a big building full of books that no one reads, but that's not important right now.
It's a big building full of books that no one reads, but that's not important right now.
Don't call me Shirley!
Phoebe Vet edblysard My car has Sirus..it talks to you along with showing a map on the stereo screen....I would imagine it could be programed to say..."railroad crossing in 500 feet, stop and look both ways before proceeding". It tells me when I am 500 feet away from my destination, how far it is to my next turn so forth and so on so a verbal warning for crossing shouldn't be that big a deal. And a simple verbal suggestion might raise a drivers awarness just enough... So you think a "verbal suggestion" from their GPS would help people understand what the lights, and bell, and barrier gate, and an air horn on the train that is loud enough to sterilize cats, mean? I doubt it.
edblysard My car has Sirus..it talks to you along with showing a map on the stereo screen....I would imagine it could be programed to say..."railroad crossing in 500 feet, stop and look both ways before proceeding". It tells me when I am 500 feet away from my destination, how far it is to my next turn so forth and so on so a verbal warning for crossing shouldn't be that big a deal. And a simple verbal suggestion might raise a drivers awarness just enough...
My car has Sirus..it talks to you along with showing a map on the stereo screen....I would imagine it could be programed to say..."railroad crossing in 500 feet, stop and look both ways before proceeding".
It tells me when I am 500 feet away from my destination, how far it is to my next turn so forth and so on so a verbal warning for crossing shouldn't be that big a deal.
And a simple verbal suggestion might raise a drivers awarness just enough...
So you think a "verbal suggestion" from their GPS would help people understand what the lights, and bell, and barrier gate, and an air horn on the train that is loud enough to sterilize cats, mean?
I doubt it.
Yes. Certainly > "never". And it's nearly free to do. Google just needs to add the locations to their database and program in the alert.
It's chicken soup. "Can't hurt"
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
edblysard Yes it might. As for the serious gate runner who makes a habit of it nothing would help, but the casual and un-observent driver it might make a difference. For the cost, (nothing to the consumer) what could it hurt?
+1
CSSHEGEWISCHWhat ever happened to preparing in advance??
Many times there are no practical alternatives for 'planning in advance' than to use GPS. Not everyone will be careful in getting clear and complete directions from someone, or writing them down, and one wrong turn or mistake or detour can make the remaining instructions almost worthless no matter how carefully they were written.
My mom says she 'can't read maps' (and is almost proud of it, as though it defines Southern womanhood or something). That means that even if she has the GPS running, she can't use it either to 'debunk' what Siri tells her moment-to-moment, or figure out quickly what to do if, for example, crApple routes her to a closed gate in an apartment complex, which so far their system has a 100% observed performance in doing.
And people get stupid when having to rely on stupid systems. Or on smart systems with uncertain or bad inputs or knowledge. And then there are old folks, or folks not familiar with 'technology', or people with poor eyesight or memory who can't remember the complicated set of jumping around to different things in a very small interface that characterizes GPS on a typical iPhone. (I don't know if Android systems are much better, but the older Windows Phone GPS was like a breath of fresh air by comparison, as though someone who actually used GPS navigation had been involved with the design ...)
There was an interesting proposal a couple of years ago that generated a 'heads up' display for GPS routing by showing a colored line ABOVE the roads, away from interfering with clear vision on the ground. This could easily be adapted with color coding, blink or 'ants', arrows of various types and lengths, graphic information, etc. to make the navigation 'experience' clearer and less ambiguous, and of course translates just as easily as Google Street View from the routing 'line' on maps to the routing 'line' in 3D view from the ground, if you need to jump back and forth to see 'where you are'. in my opinion it also helps greatly in preventing fixation on the map from distracting away from situational awareness... probably even more severe a distraction with paper maps held on the steering wheel than with a GPS on the dash? ... it's probably wise to remember that programming a GPS is NO less dangerous than 'texting while driving' from a distraction standpoint, and in many instances any interaction with a GPS navigation that requires foreground attention, thinking, or one of those 'oh, heck' moments where the instructions suddenly don't make sense or are contradictory is not likely to go well. Depending on a 'user' to pull over and stop any time a GPS demands attention or 'interpretation' is likely not practical.
Can a GPS distinguish an on-ramp that is for HOV only and one that is for all drivers? I found such a restricted on-ramp in Atlanta three years ago; I was able to avoid it and look for, and find, one that I was allowed to use.
DeggestyCan a GPS distinguish an on-ramp that is for HOV only and one that is for all drivers? I found such a restricted on-ramp in Atlanta three years ago; I was able to avoid it and look for, and find, one that I was allowed to use.
All solution, and changes - temporary or permanent - require input from somewhere. I have no idea what kind of resources the GPS makers (or the folks who prepare the data they use) put toward locating and verifying the data they use.
I would imagine that the first cut of crossing locations included would be based on existing maps and the DOT crossing database. While that would leave out many private crossings, it would certainly include all that make a difference.
For the HOV lane - the mapmakers may rely on input from state DOTs and user feedback. If it's been in place for a while, shame on the map producers. Or it could be a relatively new change.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
tree68 Deggesty Can a GPS distinguish an on-ramp that is for HOV only and one that is for all drivers? I found such a restricted on-ramp in Atlanta three years ago; I was able to avoid it and look for, and find, one that I was allowed to use. All solution, and changes - temporary or permanent - require input from somewhere. I have no idea what kind of resources the GPS makers (or the folks who prepare the data they use) put toward locating and verifying the data they use. I would imagine that the first cut of crossing locations included would be based on existing maps and the DOT crossing database. While that would leave out many private crossings, it would certainly include all that make a difference. For the HOV lane - the mapmakers may rely on input from state DOTs and user feedback. If it's been in place for a while, shame on the map producers. Or it could be a relatively new change.
Deggesty Can a GPS distinguish an on-ramp that is for HOV only and one that is for all drivers? I found such a restricted on-ramp in Atlanta three years ago; I was able to avoid it and look for, and find, one that I was allowed to use.
Private crossings have been assigned DOT numbers.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
I'm involved in the Trolley Museum in S. Elgin IL. Two years ago, I was the on call person for people with tickets for our POLAR EXPRESS trains and was getting calls from people wanting directions. We board them at a county forest preserve. (A map had been sent with the tickets but thats anoter issue) I thought to check the address in Google Maps and it showed me a location about 100 miles away in western Illinois. I used the "REPORT A PROBLEM" butten on the lower right corner and after two tries, they got it corrected. I don't know what Garmin and TomTom do but I never updated my garmin GPS. I just use my smartphone. So for anyone using a GPS device remember the old GIGO (Garbage In, Garbage Out) rule. It was programed by a human being , not God.
Norm48327 tree68 Adding a "railroad crossing in 500 feet" verbal to GPS wouldn't be all that difficult. That would be fun (not) to listen to while crossing multiple tracks. It may get thrown out the window or worse.
tree68 Adding a "railroad crossing in 500 feet" verbal to GPS wouldn't be all that difficult.
That would be fun (not) to listen to while crossing multiple tracks. It may get thrown out the window or worse.
I'm with you.
My wife's reaction would probably be to physically destroy the offending object. For something that tries to tell me how to drive, I might beat her to it.
I consult a route map - once - before setting the vehicle in motion. Having done that, the data is in the wetware and my brain keeps me posted on fixed-object hazards. (my eyes and ears track moving objects that might become hazards.) I neither need nor want any verbal input from some device that is, in itself, incapable of judgement.
Being a railfan, I am VERY conscious of grade crossings. Having studied physics (and investigated accidents) I'm quite aware of the problems inherent in the two objects/one space equation. I have never placed myself at hazard around rails and have no intention to start now.
That said, if somebody perfects the self-driving car I'll happily sit back and let the on-board computer do the decision-making - as long as it will also accept MY verbal inputs.
Chuck (Former aircraft mechanic/QC inspector)
True.
Unfortunately some of the stupidity has been on the part of the "GPS" makers (where "GPS" in quotes refers to the in-car navigation devices). The park ranger for Death Valley invited reps from the "GPS" makers to show them up close what their maps considered as passable roads and making the point that people could die if they believed the map on the "GPS". I'm surpised that there haven't been many product liability suits.
Mudchicken brought up a good point about faulty GIS data, combined with the positioning errors inherent with GPS, it isn't surprising that misdirections occur.
The HOV lane problem is another pet peeve of mine, especially with dedicated HOV exits.
- Erik
My usual practice is to consult with my handy-dandy Rand-McNally road atlas to confirm the route and print out a local map from Mapquest or Google maps to verify close-in directions and get a general idea of the layout of the area. Also, overshooting a turning point in the local area is not necessarily a problem for me, I just find a place to turn around and try again.
GPS would be a distraction I don't need.
CSSHEGEWISCH My usual practice is to consult with my handy-dandy Rand-McNally road atlas to confirm the route and print out a local map from Mapquest or Google maps to verify close-in directions and get a general idea of the layout of the area. Also, overshooting a turning point in the local area is not necessarily a problem for me, I just find a place to turn around and try again. GPS would be a distraction I don't need.
rdamon Hopefully they will have a routing option that will “Maximize RR Crossings” available so I can increase my train viewing on vacations J
ChuckAllen, TX
cefinkjr rdamon Hopefully they will have a routing option that will “Maximize RR Crossings” available so I can increase my train viewing on vacations J Next step: Figure out a good reason for a train's location to be displayed on your GPS.
tomikawaTT cefinkjrNext step: Figure out a good reason for a train's location to be displayed on your GPS. Idea Whistling Hey, Abdul! Look at what those stupid infidels just did!
cefinkjrNext step: Figure out a good reason for a train's location to be displayed on your GPS. Idea Whistling
Precisely.
And all that's even before we get to the 21st-Century version of the Conrail Boyz...
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