Laws and in car DVD players

[stocky]

I'm looking at getting a DVD screen for the centre console of my car, but am not sure on what the laws are when driving? I can understand if you can't use it while driving if its playing a movie, but what if the screen is displaying a GPS map, or radio/CD controls? Is this also illegal, as these kind of features are usually standard in a lot of new cars.

[sleepa]

It is illegal for it to show anything distracting if the driver can see it, which means no dvds when the car is moving (usually hook up a wire to the handbrake so it cuts out when the handbrake is taken off). However when I last read about it, gps navigation systems are perfectly legal, you just aren't legally aloud to press any buttons while driving now, radio controls should be fine.

PS. You can have a screen showing a dvd or whatever if the driver can not see it, so passenger side should be fine, rear seats, etc.

[Sladdo]

Have one in my car & have never been hassled. Isnt hooked up to the handbrake either.

[VK 401]

If you are watching an DVD's while driving are you watching the road?

That DVD maybe the end of someone's life.

Use common sence while incharge of an motor vehicle

[TVR-190]

If you are watching an DVD's while driving are you watching the road?

That DVD maybe the end of someone's life.

Use common sence while incharge of an motor vehicle

thanks captain obvious

[ClairBear]

If you are watching an DVD's while driving are you watching the road?

That DVD maybe the end of someone's life.

Use common sence while incharge of an motor vehicle

If you bothered to read the OP he said he knows you cannot watch whilst driving, so the point of this post is what? To show the members here you cannot spell basic words and like to point out the bleeding obvious to us all?

[ephect]

i have an ICE system and mostly display the GPS, and have been pulled up for random breatho's n what not and nothing has every been said. I did have the graphic eq bars bouncing to the music one time and nothing was said then either.

Obvious common sense, and your fine. Going over the pits is a different issue, u will have to have it connected to the handbrake. i dont see why not you can have a hidden switch to bypass the handbrake for gps if your system doesnt distinguish between apps.

[roy38]

it is illegal.... i normally just have song title and clock etc on mine, only use dvd player for travelling with my missus

[stocky]

If you are watching an DVD's while driving are you watching the road?

That DVD maybe the end of someone's life.

Use common sence while incharge of an motor vehicle

How about using common sense before replying to a post without reading? I'm not going to watch movies while driving. Obviously I would glance at it if the GPS was running

[minux]

stock,

Visual display units

A driver must not drive a vehicle that has a television receiver or a visual display unit operating if any part of the screen is visible to the driver or is likely to distract another driver.

A driver can use a driver’s aid such as a navigation device but it must be an integrated part of the vehicle design, or secured in a commercially designed holder, which is fixed to the vehicle.

"Victorian road rules: Using mobile phones and visual display units"

[W84N01]

A mate of mine thinks it's incredibly funny to always being able to "get away with it" whenever a police car drives past, as he has one in his dash and he is always using music film clips DVDs on it and it watching it.

I have refused to go in his car ever since he did that the first time, althou he has clamed down alot when he was seriously cautioned for using it that way by an unmarked vehicle lol. (as he was never really paying attention to the road and we had a few near misses)

He had to get it conected to the hand brake, and was not allowed to have the DVD function on it activated if the hand brake was off. That was the legal requirement a couple of years ago here in WA.

I think you will find that not even the passenger is allowed to watch the DVD function as it can still distract the driver from paying attention to the road, but you can have it hooked up so the screens (if any) are allowed to play in the back for other passengers, young or old lol

[stocky]

stock,

Visual display units

A driver must not drive a vehicle that has a television receiver or a visual display unit operating if any part of the screen is visible to the driver or is likely to distract another driver.

A driver can use a driver’s aid such as a navigation device but it must be an integrated part of the vehicle design, or secured in a commercially designed holder, which is fixed to the vehicle.

"Victorian road rules: Using mobile phones and visual display units"

Hmm that's interesting. Since thats a recent law, I wonder if they were just being really general about it, as one could argue that since it is mounted to the dash very securely, that you can use the GPS function as it would be a in a holder that is fixed to the vehicle. Might have to look further into it then.

A friend of mine bought a unit for his aurion from the same company, but it came with a dash surround as well to suit the Toyota. You would barely be able to tell it wasn't a factory installed option.

[MayhemOfHell]

Just thought i would write something in here as been awhile since a post and added the fact sitting at work with not much on at the moment.

Simply, it can not have distracting visual OR audio while in motion, Hence the handbrake rule.
Your software/unit must disable and remove any such item from the display/speakers once the car is in motion on a registered road.

So you cant have audio books streaming, you cant have your computer talking to you... Even the mobile phone bluetooth/speaker phone is coming into question here in a lot of states.

As for the unit itself, it must be secured to the dash (double sided tape = not legal) as in the event of an accident, This would de-attach and fly around the cabin as a missile/object.

You are able to display small animations, But these must not loop and must not be visible by the driver at the time... For example, a clock updating is fine.. But having a full screen shift light (glowing red screen) is not a legal option.

In general, goto your local audio installer/shop and have a look at the pre-made units and follow their rules... This comes from experience and research when building car computer installations.

If your the sort who can have a DVD playing without watching it,, for example music clips or just can follow it on audio alone.

there are alot of funny laws and as for the pits, they will question things beyond your belief... best bet is to have a chat with someone at your local MVR/Pits/Check station and get them to know the system so they can approve it and from there you will have no worries.

For the few trolls... NO, i dont support the idea of video's while driving... BUT i do understand that there are ways to make the unit itself as pleasing as possible while still being a safe driver.

If you want to complain because i have a playlist of 1000's of music clips playing, Go ahead. But also make sure you report the other drive who is playing with their window mount GPS leaning forward and driving over every lane while waiting for the laggy windowCE software to load each screen and search.

anyway... anyone got questions, post on here

[ToMMMaY]

u get used to it at first you feel the need to watch it
now i just zone out and drive while everyone if watching a movie lol