I don't think banning them is the answer. Fine people who program them while driving. GPS is a great tool that used correctly can make you much safer on the road. My sister and I used one to drive from LA to San Francisco, with virtually no experience with 8 lane (each way) highways and no idea where we were going. The GPS tells you exactly where to go, what lane to be in, when your exit is coming up, etc.

Hi
Recently I attempted to have my tomtom repaired but because the warranty period was over tomtom will not repair their GPS but will offer you a discount on buying a new one. This applies even if the repair is of a very minor nature I guess sthat is why so many are sold.

There should be a recall on all vehicle GPS units that are not voice activated. They are a distraction like cell phones. They cause the drivers to wonder worse than a driver over .08. Loud electronics should also be controlled in vehicles so drivers hear emergency vehicles that need to pass. All electronic devices should be controlled in vehicles PERIOD.

This is ridiculous. The government should not step in and it's not the GPS companies' fault. What ever happened to personal responsibility in this country? All we do is point the finger at the companies and the devices that are making getting around 100 times easier and more convenient. There are pros and cons to everything and policing them is not the answer.
And furthermore, I have a Garmin GPS and you would have to be completely clueless to take as long to program and screw up the destinations like you guys did on the show.

Why does cbc feel that everything must be regulated... It's called personal responsibility. Increase the laws if you kill someone while distracted driving you will be an example to others.

We had a GPS while we lived overseas and also own one now that we are back in Canada. We don't programme it while we are driving but before we are driving! I think it's insane for any driver to try programming one while driving. Safety is key here. The same as people who text or use the cell phone while driving, it's common sense folks!

Good morning,
We have been using a Garmin GPS for some ten to twelve years. Unforunately my wife cannot program it. We have always pulled over and parked if having a prolbem with the unit. My wife mentioned having it sitting on the dash could cause injury to her if it came off in a rush. I always find the unit most helpful when driving at night or a dark rainy night. We just listen to the directions and maybe the odd time I look to see how many metres I am away from the next turn. I believe people will always misuse products ... cell phones, text messaging, writing notes as they drive. How did Alberta come on the GPS screen? Maybe she should have spent some time using the "Help" in the manual!!
I love my GPS and it has saved us gas mileage and time during its use.

Concerning GPS...hasn't the goverment just baned takling on a cell phone while driving?...Now GPS take more of our attention, where is a restaurant, or a certain address, etc. Your attention, and "EYES" will be on the gadget, not really on the road.
Worse some car companies if I am correct have these in their cars, as a new, fantastic feature. Give me a break, get your info before you get in the car.
Thanks for the alert on GPS.

True GPS units can be distracting; but only if you let them. I've driven well over 500k km in my life time and used actual physical maps that are way more distracting than using a GPS unit that talks to you when a turn is comming up.

For me it's pretty obvious that even though there are drawbacks to having a GPS in a car, it's a lot safer than trying to read a map and drive! I have been alone in a car at night trying to figure out small print size and I can tell you that it was a lot more dangerous than a GPS that is used properly. For me a GPS is the safer solution
Lise

I just watched your prematurely wearing out roof segment.Same thing happen to my 25 yr IKO shingles after only 10 years. The paperwork including specific pics is a deterrent huge people.I too only received some bundles for compensation and will have to pay over $6000 to redo my roof. From your research, is there any advantage/worth to go with the 40 yrs shingles over the 25? Thanks for addressing this issue on your show. I don't believe IKO when they said they hardly get any complaints. Mine took forever to address and one employee told me they had a big turnover this summer and they have a ton of complaints..and "that I was being equally ignored as well as all the others" so not to feel that I was specially ignored. Nice eh? But your advice on the 40 vs 25 yrs would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again.

As a professional taxi owner operater in Alberta, I find the GPS to be an advantage in that it saves me the 3 seconds necessary to unfold my map possibly making me an extra 20 dollars a day. That said, the Garmin used in the show is the same one I use. If I try to program while moving, the gps goes to white and asks to disable safety. There is a law already in every province and state against programming while moving, texting or conversing on a cellphone or reading a book while moving and I got a ticket for it in Regina in 1981. It is called driving without due care and attention. Also, the van used in the show would be considered unroadworthy in both Saskatchewan and Alberta, as the driver's head restraint was missing.
Kirk

I looked at the post by Kyle. Sorry buddy but when the lives of others are at stake because you will not use your electronic equipment in a safe manner(e.g. parking your car BEFORE programming) then the government MUST step in. Unfortunately not all countries will step in at the same time making the manufacturers of these devices choose the lobby route in order to negate any regulation. As for self-regulation, give me a break... That's the fox guarding the henhouse from the inside. I live in the UK & the way it is being tackled here is through the EU system, but even then it's like trying to move the mountain. All we need are some high profile lawsuits and then see what happens as the real question then becomes: Could the mfr have foreseen this event, and since there have been many incidents, then the answer MUST be YES and then slap a few 100mil$ pun. damages & c what happens!

I find this instrument very convenient and for me a safety feature particularly around large city highways where one has no room to maneuver. The safety element is that it advises of the position of my next move.
I own 2 different types, one for my car and the other which functions with geographical coordinates.
However my feeling is that the ones used in automobiles should be rendered impossible to program when the vehicle is in motion.PERIOD.
If a driver does not know where he (she)is going that person is already a serious safety hazard.
All one has to do is pull over, think, then enter the desired destination. No problem eh.

what if I am driving and my wife wanted to input an address from the passenger seat, I would still have to pull over if it was disabled while car was in motion.

I have watched your shows covering cell phones and GPS systems. I totally agree that these devices are a distraction on the roads and do cause accidents.The question I would like to ask is, Have you ever done a study on people who drive on the city streets and highways with their family dog sitting on their lap while driving? This has to be quite a distraction as well as not being in total control of your vehicle at anytime.I feel, if there is to a ban on the above devices while driving then maybe someone should look into passing a law that requires pets to be secured in a harness or cage in the back seat.I would like to hear your views on this topic.I really enjoy your show and all the research that you do.Thanks Ron.

My good friend Shannon who was aired on this episode lost her life to a careless driver who was not paying attention to the road. Miss you with all my heart Shannon.

I'm glad they finally enforced the law regarding using GPS, Cell Phone and should add Smoking. It's a distraction while driving. Even mounting a mini tv on the dashboard should be banned.

I've always pulled to the side of the road to answer a phone or reprogramming my gps.

No one should have to go through see a love one or a close friend died cause of a careless driver.

This story is another example of Marketplace using sensationalism and either twisted or overly simple logic to tell an unbalanced story.

As a GPS owner, I program it before I leave. I don't touch it while I'm driving, although sometimes my partner (who is in the passenger seat) will reprogram it while I am driving.

It's not the "mean old GPS companies" that are to blame. It's the people who use their GPS units when driving. Period.

I was hoping for a story about poorly made GPS systems that give wrong directions or tell drivers to make dangerous or incorrect decisions.

Marketplace Fail.

Like many people I have a problem with the story. Set it before you leave and you will be fine. The part that really made this story a farce was when Erica was trying to program in a location and some how she ended up trying to select Alberta. I do not have that exact Garmin but I have a similar one and it would take direction intentions on screwing up to try and select another province than the one you are in. What I am saying is she is not impartial and purposely made mistakes and drove bad. Marketplace is starting to slip and making up stories and creating issues. This is not a safety issue, I am tired of the government trying to control all aspects of my life and every choice I have to make is made by some governing body or society group.

GPS Should be in SAFE MODE. Not able to put in addresses when vehical is in motion.Pull over when possible to put addresses in. Just like making a call on your cell phone.

I just watched your show about the GPS distraction and found it quite interesting. I agree that operation of electronic devices can be distracting......have you ever considered a follow up episode of this show regarding the police using their computer while driving? I have seen many more instances of this as of late than I have of civilian motorists using cellphones! Who enforces the enforcer?

Hi: I have a GPS and find it very helpfull for directions. No it is not good to program it while driving but it is not near as bad as getting drive through and eating and drinking while driving. I know of 2 people that got killed because a lady upset her FRIES maybe should ban drive through and take food to be eaten in the car. Just look at the lineup at any Timmies in the mourning. At least a GPS does some good and is of some help when driving but I can't any good in a coffee and something to eat other than save a little bit of time.

Hello,

I went here this morning to comment on the GPS issue but I can see that plenty of people had the same reaction as me. I think the article COMPLETELY MISSED the main issue here and that's human ignorance. You can't blame GPS manufacturers for people who can't read safetly messages or go into the settings and TURN OFF the lock that prevents usage while in motion (You even did it to the Garmin 255W you used in the article). What's next? Going to knife manufacturers and blaming them for maiming and killing thousands because people don't use them properly? Give me a break. Go back to the real issue like scams that are still stealing money from innocent people or credit card fraud or identity theft.

Why say bad things about GPS? – Following GPS directions is generally safe and is certainly helpful. However, certain destination entry tasks are unacceptably risky while driving.

Don’t tell me what to do. – Public highways are shared, and the risks you take put others at risk, and can kill. Your speed, how much alcohol you drink, etc., are regulated, and in Ontario, not programming a GPS while driving.

Don’t blame the manufacturer. - The accepted product liability standard is “design for expected use and misuse,” and we know that, given the opportunity, many will program these devices while driving. The car makers lock out destination entry while driving for safety reasons and to comply with the recommended industry practice (Society of Auto. Engineers J2364). Aftermarket manufacturers do not.

Keep in mind that what is common sense to one person may not be to someone else.

The GPS manufacturers were right in declining MP's request for interview, which amounts to no more than grandstanding over a non-issue, and Marketplace should have known better than to waste an entire episode on this topic.
After missing a turn, I always find I need to slow down to give the GPS time to recalculate. If I need to reprogram, I do not need the GPS to advise me on the immediate safe course of action.
There will never be enough manufacturing safety measures or legislation to forestall every aspect of human stupidity. We need to realize that common sense is not quite as prevalent as it ought to be, and accept that living in society entails sharing it with sometimes dangerous morons, very unfortunately.

This said, I thank MP for exposing the roof shingles manufacturing fraud that has been going on for so long. I hope there will be a follow-up on this issue.

Better than reading an open map while driving, but don't program it when in motion!

I used to have a regular touch screen gps but changed that to the new Garmin voice activated gps.I now can program my gps hands free without taking my eyes off the road.For safety this is the way to go if you have to use a gps when driving.I still pre-program mine at home from the pc before a trip but sometimes you have to re-program en route.

The manufacture even tells you not to program GPS while driving Also in the demo she did the GPS was not centre to her it was off to the side so the the camra could get its face in the shot.

What about all the CAB DRIVERS with the computer box on their dash. You see the CAB DRIVER using them all the time while driving or blocking the roadway. Now that's a danger to everyone around!!!

Your marketplace story on GPS's was informative but went too far. Many people like myself program their GPS before we start the car. Typing in an address to search, I usually make several mistakes, and I'm not even moving. If I need to program it, I pull over, just as I do when the cell phone rings. My passenger does the moving changes, so turning off that feature is not something I want. The greatest advantage is it telling me which way to turn next and which lane I should be in. No more trying to squeeze across 3 lanes at the last minute on a dark rainy night.
These things are great. I rarely look at mine while driving, I just listen to it. It's so easy.

There is only one way to make the GPS inaccessible while driving. A wire from the transmission speed sensor connected to the GPS motion detector, and software changes, should keep the driver's eyes on the road and not the load. Voice recognition while driving is a big plus for this gadget.

Yes this is smart.. Now who do you go after when the drivers pull part way over so they can program there GPS and they get hit from behind. Now do we go after the car companies because there cars don't go all the way over out of the way. The test you were doing on TV were a joke. You were trying to get the driver to program the GPS in a timed event. Yes you will get in trouble trying to do that. I was t-boned by a driver reading a map two years ago at a stop sign. If he would have had a GPS, it would have warned him to turn at the corner. I have had a GPS for 8 Years and only use it when I am lost. I stop program it and go, or get whoever in the car to program it when we are going.

On all Garmin the factory set the gps that it can't be use when moving you have to pull to the side and not moving before you can change your route or make changes
Unless you disable this feature voluntary

The idea of putting the responsibility of driver safety on the manufacturers of GPS units is completely ridiculous. I feel that is another example of people refusing to take responsibility for themselves. Why should manufacturers of GPS units be required to do anything other than offer a product that, WHEN USED PROPERLY, is very useful. It is not the manufacturers fault or responsibility in any shape or form to ensure that consumers are using their products in a 100% safe manner. THIS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE USER!!!! If you can't keep your eyes off of a GPS screen while driving your car, and you get in a collision, how can this possibly be the fault of the GPS manufacturer? Too often in today's society we find it convenient to simply blame someone else for our own stupidity. Quit playing the blame game Canada- look in the mirror, suck it up and say "I'm the idiot, it was my fault."

GPS units, like everything else have their pros and cons. Personally, I find it easier to find my way in the city because it saves me from having to strain to read the street names. Often I can't even find them before I have crossed the intersection. With a quick half-second glance at the screen I can see an upcoming turn. I often wait until I am at a red light or a stop sign to check it. And for those who are dumb enough to try and re-program their routes WHILE driving, shame on them, but really it's not unexpected or shocking. I've seen it all on the roads, from people eating breakfast to sending e-mails while driving so really why would it be a surprise that people try and program the gps? It's just up to the companies to make it impossible to program it unless your car's speed is 0 km/hr. Until then, if you have any respect for human life, pull over before fiddling with it!

GPS systems know when the car is moving because they display your speed. Just make them non-responsive to input when the car is in motion. Touching the screen does nothing when the car is moving. Simple.

It is nice that you do stories to try and keep everyone safe and alive, but the truth of the matter is people don't like rules or being told what to do; for their own good.
We have had a lot of this crap rammed down our throats lately by (ROYAL) Dalton (the premier) and frankly in all fairness to the program and Dalton I agree 100% with the banning of cell phones while driving; people still and will do it. It's dangerous to drive with your dog in your lap, it's dangerous to drive while putting on makeup, it's dangerous to drive and eat,drink a coffee in your lap and smoke a cigarette; but they do , it's dangerous to drive and read a paper or better yet a map to find your way to a destination. Do you know how many marriages have been saved by using a GPS for directions. You can't save everyone because they don't want you to. Enough with the regulations please. Don't encourage Dalton!!!!

I had a GPS in my car for a short while, a very short while.

Not only was it distracting to program, the display was too small and it was distracting to look at while driving to see the turns.

The voice was also distracting with the turn instructions sometimes coming too late or at a time when I was paying attention to something else on the road and route recalculation was disorienting.

All in all it lasted a 2 days.

All I really wanted was a device that would give me my current location so that I could look at a good old fashioned paper map, plan out my route and then get on with driving.

Most of the gps's ive ever used, usually have a disclaimer not to program while driving.

TomTom and other portable device manufacturers put sales and profits ahead of logic and safety.

Just because their consumers allegedly desire some feature, does NOT mean the manufacturers must include those features.

Why endanger or kill your customers?

Someday, an injured driver will sue one of these companies for hundreds of millions of dollars in the USA. Only then will they implement safety cutoffs for moving vehicles.

GPS devices, like everything else, require using a modicum of common sense.

I use my GPS frequently & it senses when you're in-motion & displays a nag screen warning you against doing something stupid like changing your destination on-the-fly. In fact, that's a default on the Garmin model in your story; you have to disable it to do what you're shown doing in the show preview. A bit disingenuous though not out of the realm of day-to-day reality.

Not that people don't for convenience's sake disable safety devices & then proceed to do something stupid. But that's displaying at least a diminished level of common sense. Whenever better & more effective safety interlocks come into play, people who think they're multi-tasking gods will disable them.

GPS devices are only distracting if you try and program them while driving. Set your destination before you move the car our of park and listen to the instructions.

If this simple rule is followed, GPS devices are a lot less distracting than trying to read a road map, street signs, etc.... while driving.

I choose to use mine in a safe and secure manner. I never try to program, change, select screens, etc... while the vehicle is in motion

GPS. Only safe if the passenger is viewing it directly. As a passenger, I found that this was too much of a distraction even as a voice was instructing you where to turn etc. But, men are men, a wife does the same thing and the male driver will never listen. He must confuse himself further with one eye here and one eye there.

Even though there is new legislation making it illegal to use a cell phone or other non-hands free device in a moving vehicle in Ontario, I constantly see (and avoid) people using them while on the roads and highways. I, myself, pull off the road or highway into a parking lot to program my GPS if I need to get somewhere. I wish others would do the same.

Erica,

I do have a GPS in my car! Oups! No I wouldn't go back. But with any privilege come a few more responsabilitys.

If you program your trip before you leave, it's a good start!

If you use it as a silent friend that will lead you to an unknown adress, it's actually safer for evrey body!

If you want to know your arrival time, it's pretty accrute!

If your looking for gas or food, you should maybe park it!

I thing technologie is grate& education is a safe option!

Donald :)

A GPS is a form of television. You're suppose to be driving, not watching television.

I beleive you are doing a one sided story. Your GPS system should be set before you leave the house. It was never meant to be adjusted while driving. If one has to change any features, they should pull over to the side of the road. It common sense. I have enjoyed using mine and I find I'm a much better driver in unknown locations because the GPS worns me where I should turn in plenty of time.I'm less of a nuissance at intersections trying to read cross streets.

Wow! This one is gonna be good. Thank God people from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island don't have many GPS systems...if they did..we'd all be in the hospital on account of their "excellent"(not) driving.