LOS ANGELES — A Southern California woman cited for wearing Internet-connected eyeglasses while driving plans to contest the citation.
Cecilia Abadie was pulled over for speeding Tuesday evening in San Diego, when a California Highway Patrol officer noticed she was wearing Google Glass and tacked on a citation usually given to drivers who may be distracted by a video or TV screen.
The lightweight eyeglasses, which are not yet widely available to the public, feature a hidden computer and a thumbnail-size transparent display screen above the right eye. Users can scan maps for directions—as well as receive web search results, read email and engage in video chats—without reaching for a smartphone.
Abadie, a software developer, said in an interview that she was not using her Google Glass when she was pulled over for allegedly going about 80 mph in a 65 mph zone on the drive home to Temecula after visiting a friend.
“The Glass was on, but I wasn’t actively using it” to conserve the battery, she said.
Abadie expressed surprise that wearing the glasses while driving would be illegal and said she’s “pretty sure” she will fight the ticket. First, she said, she needs to seek legal counsel. In the flurry of online commentary her traffic stop has generated, several people saying they are attorneys offered their services.
“The law is not clear, the laws are very outdated,” Abadie said, suggesting that navigating with the device could be less distracting than with a GPS unit or phone.
“Maybe Glass is more a solution to the cellphone problem than a problem,” she said.
It’s unclear whether a citation for Google Glass has been issued before. The CHP said it is not sure whether an officer within its own ranks has written one, and an agency spokesman pointed out hundreds of law enforcement agencies in California alone can write traffic tickets.
Legislators in at least two states, Delaware and West Virginia, have introduced bills that would specifically ban driving with Google Glass. Authorities in the United Kingdom are mulling a similar ban.
About 10,000 units have been distributed so far in the United States to “pioneers,” and this week Google announced another 30,000 would be available for $1,500 apiece. Abadie said she got hers in May and has become an “evangelist” for the technology.
A spokesman for Google did not reply to a request for comment. On its website, Google says this about using the headgear while driving: “Read up and follow the law. Above all, even when you’re following the law, don’t hurt yourself or others by failing to pay attention to the road.”
Was she distracted form noticing her speed? Who knows?
However her ‘hi-tech glasses’ court case pans out, she will probably be able to afford the fine for speeding 😀
I wonder if they do them in prescription lenses for us older techies?:cool:
By: Mr Merry - 14th November 2013 at 17:06
What’s the point in Google glasses anyway? Yet another pointless gadgit.
I do use a sat-nav, but only for the last bit of the journey. I have spent 20+ years driving all over the UK for work so I know my way to most places.
Only time I use a speed limiter AKA cruise control is through roadworks.
By: charliehunt - 14th November 2013 at 12:52
But hopefully you are not within a few feet of another plane most of the time……;)
By: TonyT - 14th November 2013 at 12:30
She doesn’t look too bad, Jim, if that is her in the picture
On a serious note, what do forumites think about the use of ANY electronic ‘aids’ to navigation, etc (whether worn, or fitted in the vehicle)?
Is their use conducive to road safety?
No I must admit, out of two i’d give her one 🙂
Odd isn’t it, you can be pulled for operating a phone in your car, but in an aircraft you are expected to operate the radio, talk to people, read a map, navigate…. ohh and drive the plane 😉
Jim’s Speed limiter is connected to his pacemaker batteries, go UNDER that speed and it turns him off 😀
By: trumper - 12th November 2013 at 18:33
I find music in a car or even radio 5 a help not a distraction.It has been proven that the average human can only concentrate for a short while so i suspect we go into a some sort of auto driving mode that should kick out when something happens you need to react to.
By: davecurnock - 12th November 2013 at 15:50
Dave, Speed Limiter set at 30 mph?, so your the old git that holds everyone up by travelling at 30 mph on a Sunday…..:D
Jim.
Lincoln .7
Not guilty, your honour!
I did mention that I have never used it BUT… I have given the ‘sport’ mode a bit of a work out, flappy paddles – just like Herr Vettel 🙂
Meanwhile, back on topic, like you Jim, I never have the radio or CD player on while driving. I believe they can cause distraction to drivers.
Bl00dy passengers can use their iPod thingy with earbuds if they want music, etc, while in my car.
By: davecurnock - 12th November 2013 at 15:42
Dorset!! (eek! – sorry, no graphic available!).
A good place to fly over – not so good to drive in, full of grockles and mimsers!
By: Moggy C - 12th November 2013 at 15:03
(Do you actually drive your aircraft on the roads?
Never. Hence the zero effect on road safety
And never exceed the statutory VNE, either?
Not deliberately. But it does go downhill pretty quickly
if lost, stop and ask a friendly(?)-looking local.
Most of my touring is France, Italy and Dorset so finding an English-speaker is difficult.
Moggy
By: charliehunt - 12th November 2013 at 14:39
Linc I agree with much of what you say. Too many drivers cocooned in their all singing and dancing metal boxes are only half aware of what is going on around them.
Dave – me too!! I do exactly that, it comes easy and enjoyable – it’s part of the trip – having done it for so many years preceding the advent of modern aids. But in strange towns I use Google directions pre-programmed so that I follow the voice instructions.
By: Lincoln 7 - 12th November 2013 at 14:34
Dave, Speed Limiter set at 30 mph?, so your the old git that holds everyone up by travelling at 30 mph on a Sunday…..:D
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: davecurnock - 12th November 2013 at 14:29
I wear mine.
It has negligible, indeed zero, effect on road safety
Moggy
Though I also have a magnetic compass, VOR and DME fitted to the panel
Ah, but I expect you are older and wiser than a young blonde driver in California!
(Do you actually drive your aircraft on the roads?):D
And never exceed the statutory VNE, either? !
I don’t use a GPS system myself. Before setting out, I read and digest (not literally!) the map before going into strange territory (Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, etc), then – if lost, stop and ask a friendly(?)-looking local.
If he or she turns out to be the village idiot, my fall-back option is Google maps on the phone.
My car has more toys than I need – I found the speed limiter recently – it was set at 30mph! I have never used it.
By: Lincoln 7 - 12th November 2013 at 14:26
[QUOTE=charliehunt;2087119]It depends how much of a distraction they are. Linc will know more than most of us that any distraction from the act of driving reduces the concentration on the driver’s awareness.
When I went on several Police Advanced Driving courses, unless you were giving a running commentary, ie, everything you could see well in advance, again, ie, road signs, crossroads etc, it was forbidden for anyone to talk. This is my own personal opinion, but when driving, I don’t like the radio on even, at my age, it is a distraction, when younger, I had it blaring out.:rolleyes:. As regards Sat Navs, I have a good one, which I follow by speech guidance only, I don’t watch the screen to follow directions, and it works fine.
I may sound a bit OTT, but I would double the fines for talking on mobiles etc. I do a fair bit of Motorway driving, as well as on normal roads, it’s the others on the road one has to watch out for, you realy do need eyes in the back of your head these days, ‘specialy on the A47 and A14 which I consider to be the worst roads in existance.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: Moggy C - 12th November 2013 at 14:03
On a serious note, what do forumites think about the use of ANY electronic ‘aids’ to navigation, etc (whether worn, or fitted in the vehicle)?
Is their use conducive to road safety?
I wear mine.
It has negligible, indeed zero, effect on road safety
Moggy
Though I also have a magnetic compass, VOR and DME fitted to the panel
By: charliehunt - 12th November 2013 at 13:58
It depends how much of a distraction they are. Linc will know more than most of us that any distraction from the act of driving reduces the concentration on the driver’s awareness. So I would have very guarded interest in navigational aids, and that includes satnav unless it is pre-programmed and totally voice reliant, which the best systems are, I believe.
By: davecurnock - 12th November 2013 at 13:33
Dave, as an X Copper, when you see A Badie, you stop A Badie…………………:D
Jim.
Lincoln .7
She doesn’t look too bad, Jim, if that is her in the picture :rolleyes:
On a serious note, what do forumites think about the use of ANY electronic ‘aids’ to navigation, etc (whether worn, or fitted in the vehicle)?
Is their use conducive to road safety?
By: charliehunt - 12th November 2013 at 13:16
Oh no, Linc – groan, groan…..it’s time you got your coat!!
By: Lincoln 7 - 12th November 2013 at 12:57
Dave, as an X Copper, when you see A Badie, you stop A Badie…………………:D
Jim.
Lincoln .7
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November 12, 2013 at 12:11 pm