DVD players in cars are becoming more and more popular, but how distracting are they? I mean there are laws against having lights on in the car because of reflections on the screen that can distract the driver and stop them seeing out. But the light could be reflected off the faces of the back seat passengers, not to mention be distracting to OTHER drivers driving past.

Are these going to post a future problem?

 

Interesting question. First off, I did not know that there were actually laws about driving with the interior lights on, that's news to me. For some reason, anyway, I just get the feeling that DVD players inside of cars are here to stay.

 

Yep, DVD players are definitely becoming the everyday norm... thing is they are very illegal to watch while you're operating the vehicle.

Carries a $110 fine too I think. Most companies have turned off the DVD viewing feature on aftermarket decks while the car is in operation as I'm guessing they're scared of lawsuits...

 

I knew that it was illegal to watch DVD players while operating a vehicle, but does that also come into effect when the DVD player is in the backseat, for example? I see a lot of people using them in SUVs and such, and I don't typically think of that as being illegal.

 

Wow, I didn't know this, but it kind of makes it pointless having a DVD player installed at all! Most people use them to entertain children on long journeys-not much point having one that can only be used in parking lots.

 

I have seen them in many vehicles and they have never been an issue to me, so I do not care if someone has them or not. They can be great for those people with kids that need to be occupied. But I think the problem is that if you are turning on DVD at home and then in the car, what type of parenting are you really doing?

 

I don't see it as a parenting issue if you turn on a DVD in the car. Kids get bored in the car, that's a fact, especially on long trips. If you are driving, it can be hard to either occupy a child or listen to them whine and moan about being bored.

 

DVD players are illegal to watch by the DRIVER while the vehicle is in operation...

Kids in the backseat can watch all they want...

 

Alright, thanks for clearing that up. I wasn't sure if that meant that the DVD player could not be on while the car was in operation, or just could not be watched by the driver. Thanks for the clarification!

 

Alright, that makes more sense. I do not think it is bad parenting at all. I think that it is by far the better option, when compared to having a child having a hissy fit in the back and potentially distracting the driver to the point of having an accident.

There are far worse things. It may lead down a difficult path of a few years of DVD reliance though and I am not sure I like that.