Advocacy & Safety - Pull over during the next commercial break...

Although not advisable, people eat while driving, they apply makeup and shave, they talk on the phone and send text messages. Now
South Korea makes it legal to watch TV while driving (http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/south-korea-judge-allows-cabbies-to-watch-tv-while-driving/) It looks like this ruling only applies to taxis, but I wonder how long until it spreads to all cars, and then to other countries.

I can just see a driver giving his defense: I was just driving down the road watching the baseball game when I fell asleep, next thing you know I find this cyclist plastered across my windshield - he isn't supposed to be interrupting my nap like that, is he? Since when have they allowed bicycles on the roadway? Could you please pass the chips?

Although not advisable, people eat while driving, they apply makeup and shave, they talk on the phone and send text messages. Now
South Korea makes it legal to watch TV while driving (http://www.switched.com/2009/11/04/south-korea-judge-allows-cabbies-to-watch-tv-while-driving/) It looks like this ruling only applies to taxis, but I wonder how long until it spreads to all cars, and then to other countries.

I can just see a driver giving his defense: I was just driving down the road watching the baseball game when I fell asleep, next thing you know I find this cyclist plastered across my windshield - he isn't supposed to be interrupting my nap like that, is he? Since when have they allowed bicycles on the roadway? Could you please pass the chips?

Or how about Johnny Damon hitting a grand slam homer? Or a touchdown in an important football game. Or a goal being scored at the last second in a hockey or soccer game.

Glad I don't live in South Korea...of course, being about a foot taller than the average over there, I'd stand out like Shaq....

I have seen TVs in cars before, but they have always turned off once the car starts moving. Seems stupid to allow this.

Glad I don't live in South Korea...of course, being about a foot taller than the average over there, I'd stand out like Shaq....

Most G.I.s do.

I have seen TVs in cars before, but they have always turned off once the car starts moving. Seems stupid to allow this.

Installation shops, depending on who's in the bay, can disable the lockout and let the screens operate while moving.

Before clicking the OP's link, I thought they were going to allow TV for passengers only -- which is nothing new anyway. But.. boy, this is a stupid idea. I understand that congestion sucks, and I've also seen cabbies at the airport or Union Station waiting in staging areas for their turn to pick up newly-arrived passengers, so I can see why they'd want some entertainment.

But TV all the time? Isn't the radio enough?

Installation shops, depending on who's in the bay, can disable the lockout and let the screens operate while moving.

Before clicking the OP's link, I thought they were going to allow TV for passengers only -- which is nothing new anyway. But.. boy, this is a stupid idea. I understand that congestion sucks, and I've also seen cabbies at the airport or Union Station waiting in staging areas for their turn to pick up newly-arrived passengers, so I can see why they'd want some entertainment.

But TV all the time? Isn't the radio enough?

Sadly, I guess not.

If they want to watch TV while awaiting their next fare I have no problem with that. BUT the TV should be off when the car is in operation. And the cars should be wired so that that happens.

Some while ago in the UK I was travelling by taxi when the driver started text messaging. Classic text/drive mode of look up every few seconds to correct trajectory and stay on the road. After a polite but firm request from me he stopped - I was not impressed. Goodness alone knows how I'd feel if he'd started watching television...