How is it worse than a GPS screen on a dashboard?

edit: if the PO cannot prove it was turned on, then there is such a thing as an assumption of innocence.

California or in general road driving laws don't mess around: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc26708.htm

12) A portable Global Positioning System (GPS), which may be mounted in a seven-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver or in a five-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest to the driver and outside of an airbag deployment zone, if the system is used only for door-to-door navigation while the motor vehicle is being operated.

Seems like a law that would make driving with a GPS more dangerous for many people. When I use a GPS (either dedicated, or my phone), I place it in a pocket in my center console, down below my radio / AC controls. This prevents me from constantly looking at it, as I rely solely on it's TTS feature. I consider this to be much safer, though it sounds like in California it would be forbidden.

You've misinterpreted the law. It's not telling you where to put your GPS; it's telling you what manner of device you may mount on top of the dash.

Well in that case I don't see how that law is applicable to Glass at all, since Glass is not mounted on top of the dash.

Maybe it's not the law the woman violated. Naturally, she posted a blurry picture that makes it hard to read, on top of which google plus has decided I shouldn't be able to zoom in, so I can't quite make out the citation number.

I assume Glass is much more intrusive in for FoV. GPS are also generally optimized to be used while driving (special contrast for night use to avoid blinding the driver etc...).

And mainly, you can't use your GPS for distracting activities like watching videos, browsing the web, talking to your friends... Unless your GPS is your smartphone or tablet, in which case it's the same problem.

So, you cannot use gps for distractions, unless you can?

As for FoV - as far as I remember, the screen on Glass is quite small. The location is different from what law allows (top right instead of bottom), but still...

> So, you cannot use gps for distractions, unless you can?

Using GPS on a phone while driving is illegal as well (in CA): http://www.dmv.org/articles/california-bans-use-of-cell-phon...

That article is specifically about using your phone as a GPS while it's in your hand. Using it hands-free in a car dock is a different matter (and much closer to the Glass scenario). From the article you linked:

  Had Spriggs’s cell phone been fastened on a dash dock, the
  story might have turned out differently; that’s because,
  even though California has a hand-held ban for texting,
  talking, listening (and now, using GPS), it doesn’t
  prohibit hands-free cell phone use.

>there is such a thing as an assumption of innocence.

in a court.

If you want to try out that assumption while driving, make sure to always drive with an open bottle of Jack Daniels in the passenger seat.

It's not, GPS dashboards are dangerous as well. A lot of people are just too distractable to have these kinds of things stealing their attention away from the road.

I'm all for people being distracted, but not when a) they're driving a one-ton killing machine and b) very often the things distracting them are just flat out wrong: I can't tell you how many times I've been in a car with a GPS (or iphone) and it gives completely ridiculous directions. Sometimes it's better to just switch off your targeting computer and pay attention.

The Glass has non GPS functionality. I have no opinion on it's use as a nav system, having not used it.

No, there really isn't an assumption of innocence for some things. If I am driving with an open container (booze), I'm getting cited, regardless of whether the officer saw me take a sip. IOW, I argue that Glass has such a high degree of risk for distraction and abuse that I don't want them to be legal to use while driving.

one wrong doesn't excuse another.

My in dash GPS has all sorts of warnings when attempting to program it while driving. One nice feature of my car (VW) is that the road animation and distance is also shown under the speedometer (less graphically pretty but useful).

Now, interestingly enough, adjusting my stereo or its settings don't carry carry the same warnings. I guess the assume you need to adjust them less.

How is looking at a speedometer and off the road safe, and looking at a screen in front of you in the corner of an eye unsafe?

Taking a look at the speedometer guarantees you aren't driving too fast and looking at the road is a mayor part of (safe)driving. Looking at the glass isn't, because even if you use it to look at the map that distracts you for way too long( >1sec, assuming you have to deal with the interface ).

They are essential for driving safely, plus the cognitive load is minimal requiring mere glances.

A speedometer is designed so it can be read at a glance at high speed. (and, in addition, if people on this form are not regularly checking their mirrors as well they should reconsider their driving habits).

Well as others have explained, its part of the natural cycle all good drivers adopt. Mirrors, dash cluster; for speed and idiot lights, and in general just knowing what is going on around you.

Also, most in car GPS systems do take as well as give voice commands. With steering wheel controls you can do your stereo equally as well.

There was a motorcycle helmet recently shown off by some odd company that incorporated glass like features. Sorry, no way. The last thing we need is just off the line of sight images to distract.

I really like it when people explain their statements, rather then just giving them. I for example would really like a million dollars.