Windscreen GPS navigation

[Mowdit]

Hi all, is there a law about fixing a GPS navigation unit to your windscreen?

I have seen an "increasing" number of IDIOTS with them under the rear view mirror, and the size is increasing, on the way back from Canberra last friday night I swear I saw a 9 inch screen in Day Time mode (bright).

I have enough trouble seeing under the rear view mirror in the Focus, how these CLOWNS can see me approaching from the left beats me

[kypez]

I think QLD has a law that says you cant have anything blocking the sweep area of the wipers. Sadly, we dont have any such laws in NSW or other states from my investigation.

I think its a joke personally that you can mount something to the middle of your windscreen and to think it doesnt create a blind spot!

[mik]

I have mine mounted under the rear vision mirror on one car and near the door pillar on the other, i have zero problems seeing traffic, and my eyes are closer to the road than having to look down at a screen centre stack for various stuff, by the same token both my limos are big and have big windscreens and my large boof head is not cemented in position, so should the need arise i can look around it should i need to, i do think of more distraction is the trinkets and worry beads and jingly danglys swinging around hanging off rear vision mirrors.

[Beastie]

It's an interesting point that you raise....

At work we have a ford transit van that has quite a big windscreen and the guys always put the GPS (albeit a small one) under the rear view mirror (with the power cable hanging down)...It's so annoying..

I always move it to the lowest point I can above the instrument cluster right in front of me and I find it's much better, as you only have to glance down ever so slightly if required and the cable tucks away neatly down to the ciggy plug.

[mik]

The cable hanging down from the roof would annoy me too,
i use my smart phone in an after market cradle, it is pretty good as a gps, music player,blue tooth, with drive software , add to that both my old cars that have knobs and buttons on the dash that a blind man can just feel around without taking eyes off the road most of the time, no rooting around with down low touch screens ; ) ..

[Mowdit]

Nothing common about common sense

I am not saying that it can't work in some vehicles and for some people.

BUT, some people have no idea

Mik, you are right with the dangling bits and bobs only contributing to being distracting.

In the last fortnight ive nearly been cleaned up four times by people failing to give way to me approaching from their left, often whilst they wait at a giveway/stop sign !
I drive a chill orange Ranger and it STANDS OUT, fortunately ive either pulled up or they have realized when half way out

(Sorry, if mods could change the heading to WINDSCREEN please)

[XG_Falcon]

It's because a majority of aftermarket GPS systems come with a suction cup bracket. It's not an ideal mounting device by any means but people cbf thinking of a better solution so they just stick it to their windscreen.

I made a fascia for my Navman so I could fit it above the head unit in my EB. I hated having the GPS on the windscreen and it looks much nicer in the dash. I get a lot less glare from it at night too.

However, most people won't go to these lengths and/or want to quickly move the GPS between multiple cars.

[mik]

Originally Posted by Mowdit

Nothing common about common sense

I am not saying that it can't work in some vehicles and for some people.

BUT, some people have no idea

Mik, you are right with the dangling bits and bobs only contributing to being distracting.

In the last fortnight ive nearly been cleaned up four times by people failing to give way to me approaching from their left, often whilst they wait at a giveway/stop sign !
I drive a chill orange Ranger and it STANDS OUT, fortunately ive either pulled up or they have realized when half way out

(Sorry, if mods could change the heading to WINDSCREEN please)

This is true mate, even without extra distractions you get drivers that have difficulty mastering just driving, i was sitting at traffic lights with an mt lane between me and another lane full of cars , and there was enough room to get a kenworth between the two lanes ....... and a bloke in 4wd still managed to hit me at 15 ks an hour .

[GasoLane]

From the RMS website.............
http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/...rules-2012.pdf

Visual display units in motor vehicles
A visual display unit (including a mobile phone), which is being used as a driver’s aid function, such as a GPS, may only be used in a motor vehicle if it is secured in a fixed mounting.
This mounting must be commercially designed and manufactured for this purpose. It must be positioned in the vehicle to not distract or obscure the driver’s view.
Penalty: 3 demerit points (4 in a school zone) and $298 ($397 in a school zone)

[TheInterceptor]

Had mine tucked in the corner next to the A piller in the subie. Then the mount broke. Since then I've fixed it to below the radio unit ontop of the cig lighter block. Great at night, can't see the screen if the sun shines on it, however it gives spoken directions so that's all good

One day if I ever have money to burn I'd like a new double din stereo with a gps built in.

People with gps below the mirror isn't too bad. I see people with iPads on the windscreen!!

[ebxr8240]

I mount them low so I can see over them.. In most cases I use my iPhone (maps) leave it on console or other seat.. It tells me directions ..
I'm used to getting directions from that seat!!

[kypez]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

From the RMS website.............
http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/...rules-2012.pdf

Visual display units in motor vehicles
A visual display unit (including a mobile phone), which is being used as a driver’s aid function, such as a GPS, may only be used in a motor vehicle if it is secured in a fixed mounting.
This mounting must be commercially designed and manufactured for this purpose. It must be positioned in the vehicle to not distract or obscure the driver’s view.
Penalty: 3 demerit points (4 in a school zone) and $298 ($397 in a school zone)

Well that opens a whole kettle of fish. Surely they need to be more specific?!

[Mowdit]

Can't put a "letterbox" or supercharger/ intake up thru the bonnet and obscure view

But its ok to hang a 9" display screen and obscure twice as much

And quite the revenue raiser