Realtime mpg displays - safety hazard?
 

One thing I noticed when I had a ScanGauge II is that I definitely was more distracted from my driving. The number of times I'd wind up at my destination without being about to remember the specifics of the drive increased (well, other than the mpg values - those specifics increased). I live in a rural area and rarely even see a child on the street, but it made me nervous. Anyone else worry about the proliferation of such distractions?

I think the ScanGauge's distraction level might have lessened a bit with time once the novelty had worn off. Also, the ScanGuage just gives you the raw numbers, so turning those into actions requires more thought than if it instead gave you direct feedback about what you should be doing with the gas pedal. Presumably I would've become better at that over time as well. I sold it off mostly because the behaviours were pretty simple and I thought I'd absorbed them (well, and 'cuz I'm cheap).

This would depend on the individual. For me, it keeps me concentrated on driving. If I didn't have the Scangauge and didn't spend my excess capacity thinking about saving fuel, then my mind would be totally off somewhere else on something completely unrelated to driving, and my eyes/hands might be messing with some device not related to driving.

I just can't concentrate on plain old driving and keep focused on it, I need something to fill up my mind, eyes, and hands. If that something is related to driving, that works out well for me.

Other people who are better at focusing would have different results.

I often listen to podcasts when I drive, and I don't find it distracts me that much. I wonder if the simple act of my looking at the gauge rather the the road is what my major problem was?

Maybe an audible feeback for mpg? That wouldn't be annoying at ALL! I still think an mpg cruise control would be useful. The patent exists, but I haven't seen anything in a real product.

Pretty sure the problem is with YOU and not the Scan Gauge. It's no more distracting than a tachometer or a speedometer.

I have my SG mounted right by my instrument cluster. I glance over the figures when I read my gauges (every few seconds). For me its no different than reading the speedometer, tach, and oil pressure.

^^^ 100% correct. If the scangauge distracts you then you shouldn't be driving in the first place. It's nothing more than just another gauge. Speedometer, tachometer, fuel level, coolant temp, oil pressure, etc. The gauges inform the driver as to how the vehicle is performing. If any one of those distracts you too much you shouldn't be behind the wheel.

Things like cell phones and in-dash DVD players are the real distractions and should be banned from vehicles.

That seems...unwarranted.

That wasn't directed at you specifically but rather at the the general driving public.

However, if the shoe fits...

That did seem a little extreme. One thing to point out is with our peripheral vision our brain has an easier time processing the visual of an analog gauge opposed to a digital gauge. This is why when car companies are switching to a digital instrument cluster there is a decent amount to R&D in placement, daytime & nighttime visual output, and "font" size.

The scangauge simply does not have the most efficient combination of these characteristics when viewed visually in a car. This will affect some drivers more than others.

Oh come on! We all see right through that one. :rolleyes:

I don't care if you believe me or not. That doesn't make it any less true. My comment wasn't directed at him. It was a generalization.

However, this post (made before mine) appears to be directed at him specifically.

I don't think cell phones should be banned from cars but I do think that they need to enforce the headset rule more than they do.

As for DVD players. Any DVD player that is visible by the driver while on the road is technically illegal.

You are correct. I should have been more specific in my reply. "Hand-held" cell phones should be banned from cars. "Hands-free" cell phones are fine.

Well, "distracted driving" is already a law and coveres all sorts of distractions (hand-held cell phones, texting, DVD, navigation systems, etc). But that doesn't mean people actually obey the law. Trust me, I frequent many automotive forums and there are always people asking how to bypass the safety feature in in-dash DVD players that prevent them from being viewed when that car is in gear.

My instantaneous mileage display is another information source.

If I focus on that source in traffic then my situational awareness suffers substantially.

This reduces my "edge" far beyond my legal responsibilities. It reduces my ability to anticipate the stupidity of other drivers and their actions that could endanger me and my passengers.

I usually drive alone without normal distractions that are a unavoidable part of other drivers circumstances. I see many other drivers talking on cell phones, with a cup of coffee, and three kids in the car. I see women driving down the road, tailgating the car in front of them, with their heads turned around messing with a child in the rear seat, enadngering the lives on everyone near them.

I can only dream of driving on a quiet country road where there would be no outside influences on my driving technique. In my normal 30-40 mile daily routine, I regularly have to navigate through over 50 traffic lights. idiot drivers, construction, not to mention weather conditions that the same idiots seem to think has no effect whatsoever on their ability to maintain control of their vehicle.

In 42 years behind the wheel, 90% of the incidents I have been involved in, were the fault of the other driver. I have pulled off the road to keep an idiot from slamming into me, while stopped. Almost creamed by a SUV on a motorcycle more than once. Hit 6 times in 6 months in the rear end by other idiots.

As you stated maximillian once you have watched any information instrument for some time, your actions become second nature. For that reason I do not see additional information as a distraction that affects my driving skills, unless I am stupid enough to risk the lives of everyone near my vehicle by allowing my situational awareness to be affected to even the most minor percentage.

regards
gary

I just ran some errands and tried to pay attention:

1) I almost never glance at my gauges. I shift by engine sound and I know the roads so well I don't really even need the speedometer much.
2) When I forced myself to look at the gauges, all it did was take away a bit from my mirror checking.
3) My trips are very uneventful. On the 45 min trip home I saw only two cars once I got out of the town proper.

I conclude that you guys are correct and that it was a misperception created by my being unused to looking at stuff. Ultimately, the answer seems simple: I almost always drive the same route over and over and it's boring! Of course I mostly remembered the ScanGauge as it was far more engaging. I don't even notice all the beautiful mountain scenery anymore (I should work on that...).

Had I kept the computer I'm sure I would've adapted. Thanks for all your input guys.

Still, I look at my gauges, even if I already know how fast I'm going (Like when I use the cruise control) because I also monitor my alternator, H2O temp, oil pressure, and Transmission temp. If my engine starts running hot, my alternator dies, or I lose oil pressure I want to know before any permanent damage is done, or I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere.

-Jay

My Accent just has fuel, tachometer, and speed. Well, and the time. :)

It's not like I never look at the gauges, just a lot less than when I had the ScanGauge.

I use the gauges to tell me when something is about to go as well. my car has a little over 183k on the clock and the MPG meter has actually tell me that something is wrong. my EGR valve was clogging up and I knew something was up a few months beforehand but just chocked it up to winter driving. the CEL finally came on and told me that it was the problem.

to clarify, I didn't know it was the EGR until the CEL came on but I knew something wasn't right because my mileage went down a little. made me feel better when my mileage came back up. I really should have noted that in my gas log. oh well.

Talked with an auto body guy a few years back...according to him, far more accidents were caused by fatigue than by cell-phone distraction. Of course, this was just one guy. At least you can hang up a cell phone. Sometimes, passengers in the car can create distractions far worse than a cell-phone, and usually you can't just turn them off.

Only the guilty need feel guilty.:rolleyes:

Off topic (just for a sec.)

Maximilian's sig: "There are three types of people: the glass is half full, the glass is half empty, and the glass is at 50% of its capacity."

Whether the glass is half full or half empty, someone is going to have to wash it. And if it gets dropped or broken, then there is THAT mess to clean up!

End of off topic...back to the regularly scheduled discussion!

Well, that was entertaining! I had toyed with using:

"Engineers are people who work very hard at being lazy."

Yeah, but I'm thirsty and it the glass might have beer in it.

Hey, if a moderator is continuing it, it's got to be ok........right? :p

Only if he uses flaming letters 30 feet hi (or was that 30 point)?

How's this?

I was going to use images.google.com to find large flaming versions of each letter in "How's this" but it wasn't working out...

lol it cant be as distracting as those damn in dash GPS things, or the lexus commercial where ones got a friggin joystick to pan around on thew screen with a mouse!

You made me smirk, so mission accomplished!

Bear in mind, the beer has alcohol. Alcohol dries you out, and makes you more thirsty. That's why half a glass won't be enough. You'll need more beer to take care of the thirst brought on by the alcohol. Then you'll need more beer...

Having to drink another beer doesn't sound so bad. When I'm thirsty I want to drink stuff, not worry about hydration.

Though with only a few percent alcohol and most of the rest being water, does beer really act as a diuretic?

According to the general wisdom on the 'net (don't know if it is scientifically accurate or not) the general consensus seems to be...yes.



https://www.organicfacts.net/health-b...s-of-beer.html

I'll stick to my home brewed Orangina substitute: 50% OJ, 50% Fresca. Or should I say half OJ, half Fresca? :)

Now, how much gas do you use locating your Fresca? At least around here not many stores carry it.

-Jay

Must be regional. In the NE I have no trouble (even convenience stores often carry it). Also, I wait until a sale and clean them out. It keeps for a really long time.

Makes me wonder what flavors you have that we don't. Do you have Moxie? That stuff is...uh...an acquired taste.

hmm ihad my fair share of jack and coke last night, goin for somehting different tonight.

shall i use everclear? :P

LOL, I'm not sure we have Moxie. I don't drink soda often. I know you don't get some of my favorites... Dominion root beer... Its brewed like beer at our local microbrewery about 5 miles from my house. AFAIK its only sold in the DC area. I also love Northern Neck ginger ale. Its very spicy. Makes Canada dry taste like bottled sugar water (Oh wait, that's what it is anyway...). NN ginger ale is bottled in Montross, VA and isn't sold outside of the Northern Neck of Virginia. Fredericksburg is about as far out as you can get it (Although you can order it direct on the internet now).

-Jay

Wow...I didn't know they still MADE Fresca!