Garmin: Chat, Navigate and Steer — But Don’t Drive Distracted

The first time I saw this ad I thought my eyes and ears were
deceiving me. But no, there it is: a young woman holding a cellphone
toward the camera as "nüvifone" maker Garmin beckons viewers to
"communicate while navigating."

"With my nüvifone, I can take calls from my friends while
I’m driving to them," she says as she’s shown piloting an SUV with two
passengers, one of whom accepts an incoming call on a phone mounted to
the windshield. (Note to Garmin: Hands-free is not brain-free.)

Maybe
the most egregious aspect is the "Do not drive while distracted"
disclaimer — which pops up as the young woman is depicted driving
while distracted.

nuviphonegrab.jpg

What
the ad doesn’t show: The driver plows her SUV through one of the
pedestrian-populated shots that follow, and bystanders whip out their
nüvifones to call 911, text their friends and photograph the carnage.

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

Today’s Headlines

|
Pasadena Reviewing Fate Of Canceled 710 Freeway Housing (Pasadena Now) South L.A. Community Plan Update Aims To Shift Development To Commercial Corridors (Urbanize) California Ends Parking Mandates At Transit-Rich Locations (LAT) Southeast L.A. Toxic Tours Teach About Pollution And Resistance (LAist) 8 Places To Bike In Southern California (LAT) …9 Groups To Bike So Cal […]

Today’s Headlines

|
More On October 7 K/Crenshaw Line Opening (The Source, LAT, Daily News) United To House L.A. Could Fund Housing Needs (L.A. Taco) County Ends Mask Mandate On Transit (LAT) Metro Approves Motion To Advance Bus/BRT/Rail On Vermont (Daily News) Advisory Commission Approves Pasadena Ped Plan (Pasadena Now) Metrolink Train Stalled Due To Wire Theft (Daily […]