to think that having those screens on the dashboard of cars are as dangerous is as dangerous as talking on a mobile while driving?

[InMyLittleHead]

DP has just got himself a new car for Christmas. It is quite nice and shiny and all that, but it is imo massively over-technologified. On the dashboard, it has got a screen which shows you where you are going on a map (it's not sat-nav because it doesn't talk, but just shows routes). When you are parking it shows an outline of the car and possible obstacles, and it beeps. If you press buttons it also shows you all kinds of shit, like mileage and petrol consumption and where cameras are and loads of stuff.

We have nearly had an argument because I think he spends more time looking at it and prodding it than looking at the actual road, and it is a liability. Loads of cars seem to have them now and I fail to see how they are any less distracting than talking on a mobile.

they aren't inherently dangerous IMO

but you shouldn't be tapping and pressing them whilst you are driving - ideally you should pull over if you need to re-programme it

Parking help seems like a safety feature rather than a deterrant.

My SIL's car has loads of computer features including Sky TV. But many of them are inactivated if the car is moving, so they are not hazardous.

The map thing sounds v distracting. People souldn't be watching screens when they should be watching the road IMO. That is the whole reason sat navs talk to you (although people still look at them)

I know the parking sensor is supposed to be a safety thing but I still think it's dangerous to rely on the screen and not look around the car itself.