The Apple Watch may not be available in New Zealand yet, but that isn’t stopping some safety-minded organizations from seeking to ban it, and other smartwatches, from use while driving.
“A second’s inattention at the wheel can result in tragedy,” said advocate Caroline Perry of road-safety charity Brake. “Smartwatches and other wearable technology are extremely distracting if used while driving.”
New Zealand law already bans the use of smartphones; violations result in a fine of $80 (about $53 U.S.) and 20 demerit points on the user’s license. Accumulating 100 points in a two-year period will get your driving privileges suspended, so it’s not the lightest penalty. The issue is that this law does not expand to wearables like Apple Watch and its competitors.
Activists like Perry would love for that to change, but in the meantime, she suggests that drivers remove temptation to check one’s watch altogether — by removing the watch itself.
“Our advice to drivers is to take them off and put them out of reach so that you aren’t tempted to use them at the wheel.”
New Zealand isn’t the only country whose laws are trying to catch up to the latest technology. Police slapped a Canadian driver with a ticket for using the Music app on his Apple Watch while driving. Current Canadian law doesn’t specifically refer to smartwatches; only “hand-held [devices] that include a telephone function.”
Driving laws in the U.K. also don’t specify smartwatches, but they do make exceptions for navigational information. So while it’s technically possible that you could legally use Apple’s Maps app while driving, it’s up to whoever pulls you over to decide if you were paying enough attention to the road. And if they say you weren’t, you could be looking at a fine between £100 and £1,000 (about $156 – $1560 U.S.). So it’s probably best not to risk it.
I don’t like the idea of taking my Apple Watch off every time I get into the car, but I do turn Do Not Disturb on when I drive anywhere. This keeps both my Apple Watch and iPhone from trying anything distracting.
Via: NZ Herald
Evan Killham is a freelance writer who lives in Nebraska and isn’t interested in football, so he has plenty of time to play and think about video games. He has written for Bitmob and GamesBeat and sometimes, he even goes outside. But not too often because he’s heard there are bees out there. Occasionally, companies send free units for review. Evan subscribes to Cult of Mac’s Reviews Policy and also does not keep the items he receives for possible coverage.
12 responses to “Safety-minded Kiwis want Apple Watch off the road”
Great, more nanny-state activities from the typical countries. I will not take my watch off every time I get in the damn car. Also, how did the Canadian driver get a ticket when the law quoted here says “hand-held devices” and the apple watch is not a “hand-held” device?
Fuc**** FSM, what next? This crap is getting out of hand.
People shouldn’t play with any device, or do their makeup, while driving. BUT… using the Apple Watch is much safer than the iPhone while driving since it’s smaller and takes up less of your visibility and only really provides for short interactions, and I see people texting on their phones while driving all the time. My point is, the focus of safety behind the wheel should still continue to be about phones, not smartwatches which very few people even have at this point.
I personally think the iPhone is easier to use well driving. I’m able to look in all three mirrors rather then putting down my watch and looking. As while as having to worry about the watch turning off because I had to focus on the road.
Go fuck yourself and your doofus kiwi you POS.
Laws in Australia prevent a driver using any electronic device while driving, which includes smart watches. Fines range between $350-$450 and loss of demerit points. A study out of the U.S. has equated using an electronic device to driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.05, which is considered drunk driving.
U.S. drunk driving is 0.08 – so I guess not then, eh?
I think you should check your facts. States have varying ranges for BAC, from 0.01% up to 0.10% with offences ranging from fines to license suspension. 0.05% in Florida for instance is a summary offence, as it is in other states, where you can have your license cancelled.
Federal guidance from the NTSB is 0.08 and you were talking about the U.S. – not a single state like Florida. So, I guess not, eh?
Good luck driving over 0.05 in Florida buddy. If you’re really that stupid, why don’t go don’t you for it? Have fun in that realty vacuum of yours. Ignore state laws, yeah, thats a great plan. Guess not, eh?!
Look – this is all you had to do:
“A study out of the U.S. has equated using an electronic device to driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.05, which is considered drunk driving IN SOME STATES.”
By truncating those 3 words from your original thought, you left the obvious interpretation that NTSB guidance or that everywhere in the U.S. has a 0.05 limit. Which is not the case. Don’t be lazy. Don’t truncate your thoughts. Articulate. Be a postive role model.
Ya… I’ll get behind this right after they make smoking, turning on the radio, looking at your Navi and talking to the passenger illegal…
Somehow, taking one of your free hands to hold onto a object that is smouldering at 600 degrees seems a bit more dangerous than looking at your wristwatch – if they specified texting or some similar activity when using your apple watch their argument might hold water but the notion to take off your watch when behind the wheel is farcical…
What about Pebble, Google wear or even Suunto brands – Use the word “Apple” in your propaganda and you are guaranteed press coverage – if this was attacking Pebble then it would never get a ounce of traction,,,