Is using Apple watch considered hands free in the car?

[docprego]

It occurred to me while driving today that having turn by turn directions on my wrist is the perfect location. I could keep my left wrist at about 10 o'clock on the steering wheel and have the directions in my line of sight at all times. As it is now I have to glance at my phone in its mount which is certainly not on my steering wheel.

Similarly receiving text and other notifications will be equally convenient while driving.

Will using the watch be considered driving hands free in states where it is required by law? Of course you aren't physically holding the watch but you do have to interact with it at times with your other hand.

Just wondering.

 

[Gav2k]

It occurred to me while driving today that having turn by turn directions on my wrist is the perfect location. I could keep my left wrist at about 10 o'clock on the steering wheel and have the directions in my line of sight at all times. As it is now I have to glance at my phone in its mount which is certainly not on my steering wheel.

Similarly receiving text and other notifications will be equally convenient while driving.

Will using the watch be considered driving hands free in states where it is required by law? Of course you aren't physically holding the watch but you do have to interact with it at times with your other hand.

Just wondering.

It really depends on what your doing.

Yes ok to

Directions
Answering the phone
Replying via Siri to texts

No to

Everything else

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

California courts issued a ruling that the hands free law applies only to calling and texting. E.g., you're allowed to use navigation on your phone without running foul of the law. Whatever you can or cannot do with your cell phone will likewise apply to the Watch.

 

[kdarling]

Although I've done it myself, I have to admit that it's really not much different than holding your phone up on the steering wheel. Except the display is much smaller.

In other words, I wouldn't call it safe, because, unlike dash mounted items, wheels and hands move.

Ah well. I foresee that we'll all soon need to be aware of drivers with their hands on the wheel and their heads slanted to the left (or right).

It'll be an indication that they're trying to read the little postage stamp sized display on their wrist.

 

[Julien]

It occurred to me while driving today that having turn by turn directions on my wrist is the perfect location. I could keep my left wrist at about 10 o'clock on the steering wheel and have the directions in my line of sight at all times. As it is now I have to glance at my phone in its mount which is certainly not on my steering wheel...

Only works if you have a C7 Z06.

 

[VFC]

What is also very dangerous is going from a focus point ~100ft while driving to a few inches to read the tiny watch display. If someone pulls out/runs out in front of you, you will loose a few milliseconds of reaction time.

Most accidents are caused by two or more unplanned things happening at the same time; e.g., message appearing on the watch and something pulling out in front of you.

 

[moxxham]

One thing that I am curious about. If the watch is paired to the phone via Bluetooth, what happens when I get in my car and go to play music thought the speakers? Will the phone lose connection to the watch and transfer to the car, or will it ignore the car? Because I would love to be able to play my music from my phone to the car, but get driving directions on my watch.

 

[ZEEN0j]

One thing that I am curious about. If the watch is paired to the phone via Bluetooth, what happens when I get in my car and go to play music thought the speakers? Will the phone lose connection to the watch and transfer to the car, or will it ignore the car? Because I would love to be able to play my music from my phone to the car, but get driving directions on my watch.

Having used a pebble it will work like you want it to. Music in car and your phone will still be paired to the watch for notifications etc.

 

[Southern Dad]

The way Georgia's law is written, you can't use your iPhone for GPS. The Apple Watch could be an issue but it's a close one as it doesn't connect to the internet itself.

 

[AngusW]

Having used a pebble it will work like you want it to. Music in car and your phone will still be paired to the watch for notifications etc.

Pebble doesn't have built in speakers so we don't know for sure the watch might have a small one since you can play music on the watch when out on a run. We'll most likely find out more today at the event.

 

[AppleFan360]

The way I look at it, they have to catch me first. If I glance at my watch to read a notification, adjust my thermostat at home, or simply read the time, the cops will never be able to tell the difference what I'm doing. As far as they are concerned, I'm simply looking to see what time it is and my hands are still on the wheel. I've been doing this with the Pebble. Legal or not, it won't make any difference to me.

 

[Tycho24]

Although I've done it myself, I have to admit that it's really not much different than holding your phone up on the steering wheel. Except the display is much smaller.

In other words, I wouldn't call it safe, because, unlike dash mounted items, wheels and hands move.

Ah well. I foresee that we'll all soon need to be aware of drivers with their hands on the wheel and their heads slanted to the left (or right).

It'll be an indication that they're trying to read the little postage stamp sized display on their wrist.

Lol, if the watch vibrates on the left side of your wrist to indicate an upcoming left turn (as Apple has said it will) AND you hear the words "take exit 203a to the left in 2 miles", why on earth would you ALSO be straining to read your postage stamp screen??
I know it's considered cool to try to come up with nonexistent problems & complain about them prematurely, but this is a HUGE stretch.
Unless you want to edit it to "if you are both deaf and have no feeling in either of your wrists, this is going to be annoying to squint at while driving!", sadly... you do not have a valid point in this.

 

[AngusW]

Lol, if the watch vibrates on the left side of your wrist to indicate an upcoming left turn (as Apple has said it will) AND you hear the words "take exit 203a to the left in 2 miles", why on earth would you ALSO be straining to read your postage stamp screen??
I know it's considered cool to try to come up with nonexistent problems & complain about them prematurely, but this is a HUGE stretch.
Unless you want to edit it to "if you are both deaf and have no feeling in either of your wrists, this is going to be annoying to squint at while driving!", sadly... you do not have a valid point in this.

I think that the turn by turn would be geared towards pedestrians so driving directions may not work with it. But we shall see only 4 hours left till the event.

 

[kdarling]

I know it's considered cool to try to come up with nonexistent problems & complain about them prematurely, but this is a HUGE stretch.

It's definitely not considered cool to comment without reading the thread first.

What the OP said, and what I was responding to, was:

I could keep my left wrist at about 10 o'clock on the steering wheel and have the directions in my line of sight at all times. As it is now I have to glance at my phone in its mount which is certainly not on my steering wheel.

Similarly receiving text and other notifications will be equally convenient while driving.

 

[Tycho24]

It's definitely not considered cool to comment without reading the thread first.

What the OP said, and what I was responding to, was:

Lol, and before GPS I suppose both of you guys spread out an entire map & continuously stared at it... instead of the road??
You currently stare at your GPS screen instead of the road??
Oh, no? You don't?
Oh, you occasionally glance at it for 1-2 seconds at a time like literally everyone else?
Cool.
Then I guess pretending like we're going to see people straining at watches for directions while driving was total hyperbole and utter bs.

 

[TheAppleFairy]

If you are staring on the watch while driving I see that as an issue.

I always find it funny when I see people using their phones while driving having it on speaker phone and holding it in front of their mouth, I usually leave mine on the windshield mount and put it on speaker if I need to talk.

Get a window or dash mount for the phone, or use a headset. I think the speakerphone on the iPhone is going to be louder than the speakerphone on the Apple Watch. At this time I can't see their being a benefit to using the Apple Watch while driving. Unless you can use the single or double tap feature to indicate a turn coming up. I usually use my GPS with the sound off.

 

[ZEEN0j]

Pebble doesn't have built in speakers so we don't know for sure the watch might have a small one since you can play music on the watch when out on a run. We'll most likely find out more today at the event.

Not what I'm saying or what he asked. The watch will most certainly, like the pebble. Play music through your car speakers using Bluetooth but will also at the same time be connected to your phone. So you'll still get notifications and incoming calls on your watch.

 

[DavidMc]

Experience with my Moto360, when hands at 10 and 2 the top of the wrist and watch is angled out and away from you. So other than feeling the vibration on my wrist, I really can't see what the screen is doing without moving my hands. Generally the phone is in a mount on the dash so it's just as easy to look there to see what GPS is dictating to do next. Same with notifications, I would have to take my hand off the wheel and look. If wearing long sleeves or a coat, the watch is typically covered up.

 

[Armen]

It occurred to me while driving today that having turn by turn directions on my wrist is the perfect location. I could keep my left wrist at about 10 o'clock on the steering wheel and have the directions in my line of sight at all times. As it is now I have to glance at my phone in its mount which is certainly not on my steering wheel.

Similarly receiving text and other notifications will be equally convenient while driving.

Will using the watch be considered driving hands free in states where it is required by law? Of course you aren't physically holding the watch but you do have to interact with it at times with your other hand.

Just wondering.

When you have your hands on the steering wheel your watch is facing away from you. If you have to turn your wrist to make the watch face you, you have to remove your hand from the steering wheel. It really isn't practical.

 

[kdarling]

Then I guess pretending like we're going to see people straining at watches for directions while driving was total hyperbole and utter bs.

Lighten up, Francis. It was meant to be half humorous, yes. But only half:

Up here in NJ and in NYC, I most certainly do notice people driving with their head down, doing something on their phone.

From behind during the day, you can often see their head down while they weave all over the road. And at night, you can see them holding a lit phone in front of their face. Either situation alerts you to be more careful around them.

Anyone who drives has seen this kind of thing many times nowadays.

So sure, I think I'll be able to see a constantly cocked head, twisted wrist, and at night a tiny lit watch, too, and know what they're up to. I think the cops will too

==

The point is that no, it's not safer than using a phone. Probably even less so, since it has a smaller screen and isn't normally facing you.

 

[Tycho24]

Lighten up, Francis. It was meant to be half humorous, yes. But only half:

Up here in NJ and in NYC, I most certainly do notice people driving with their head down, doing something on their phone.

From behind during the day, you can often see their head down while they weave all over the road. And at night, you can see them holding a lit phone in front of their face. Either situation alerts you to be more careful around them.

Anyone who drives has seen this kind of thing many times nowadays.

So sure, I think I'll be able to see a constantly cocked head, twisted wrist, and at night a tiny lit watch, too, and know what they're up to. I think the cops will too

==

The point is that no, it's not safer than using a phone. Probably even less so, since it has a smaller screen and isn't normally facing you.

Lol, at you telling me to lighten up!!!
Just saw your dreary, doom and gloom post chock full of manufactured faux anger about Apple making products for the 1%.
Ffs, you can buy one with the SAME FUNCTIONALITY for 1/20 the price!!!
Your "outrage" seems disingenuous at best.
Hmm.... actually, you remind me that AW can stand for one other thing besides Apple Watch & Android Wear. =P
(hint: attention "blank")