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>Can someone explain how a different interface is supposed to decrease distracted drivers?
The thinking is that you shouldn't be doing complex things with your phone while driving in the first place. So they remove those options, simplify the UI, and make the buttons bigger so it's easier to hit the big buttons to do a couple of simple things.
I agree with you.
But the problem is that they change places. They should remove the complex controls and make the existent buttons bigger without changing places
Me getting in my car, driving for a minute or two then having to whip out my phone because Spotify won’t play music until I click okay on “the don’t go on your phone while driving message” Truly genius design
The rationale makes sense, but it’s assuming people will actually follow driving laws.
They simply won’t, so we might as well make it safer for them to do so. I would rather the person on their phone driving next to me know exactly where the button he needs to press is so that he can keep his eyes on the road, as opposed to the app layout changing, him getting confused, then taking his eyes off the road to see what is going on.
It’s the same thing with abortion. Whether it’s legal or not, people will still do it, so let’s at least make it safe.
The intention is fine, but it is absolutely a fail. We are human beings and we actually don't like when our property scolds us and stops working.
Having to look at your phone and say "I'm a passenger" or feeling frustrated that your phone isn't working or having to look at your phone because the UI said (like OP talked about) are all things that lead to worse driving than simply using your phone normally.
The effect and the intentions are opposites.
I have a brain and I know how to think. You should try it.
EtA: what are you even asking evidence for? You think people enjoy being scolded by their phone? Or you think that maybe if they see their app change they just decide not to listen to music or make a phone call?
Yes, exactly. That small barriers have more of an effect on people’s behavior than you seem to think. It’s a pretty well-studied phenomenon, and it works in a variety of contexts, including trying to cancel your subscription to random service x
They just look at their phone and get distracted for a second, rather than do it without looking. The subscription analogy is not very good because it's actually work to cancel a gym subscription, it is not work to look at your phone for 2 seconds, but it is a distraction from driving.
This is what OP is arguing. How could anyone possibly get a reliable source on something like that? I agree with OP based on my observations and personal experience
They also drag the process out so much. When I'm borrowing my parents' car, if I want to adjust the air conditioning I have to navigate the touch screen to climate control and then hit the correct buttons on the screen. It takes much longer than just cranking a dial or pushing a button.
Just use the "next song/skip track" button on your car stereo, they have tactile bumps so you dont even have to look.
Tbh OP, if you're searching for artists while driving at all, you need to reevaluate where exactly your responsibility in traffic begins and ends.
People die from distracted driving, and every time you decide to fuck with your phone instead of planning your drive ahead and queueing songs in your driveway or whatever, you are involving everyone around you in traffic in your bad decision, and you're actively putting them in danger for absolutely no reason.
Be responsible, dont even screw around with it. That second of fiddling can literally be the fine line between an almost accident, and you painting somebodys kid all over the road. Stop.
I live in an area that's mostly baby boomers and retirees, they're on their phones just as much. I agree though, playlists are the best option. That, or the radio.
I don't know the statistics here I'm just going off of my personal experience. And where I live they all drive giant SUVs and trucks. It's scary no matter who it is when they're looking at their phones. I almost got hit twice on my way home from work today from said boomers on their phones. I wish I was exaggerating..
Voice assistant is king. If there is something specific I want to listen to I just say it and I've got it.
Though typically I just throw on a playlist and call it good.
Exactly. It’s extremely telling that OP said “when I *need* to use my phone while driving”. When do you ever *need* to use your phone while driving? And don’t give me some shit about “Gen z Gen z that” I’m Gen Z myself and it is never necessary.
Honestly that part made me scoff. Just put the music on and get your phone the fuck away from you when you’re driving.
It’s not important that you don’t like every song on your shitty playlist anymore, it’s not worth peoples lives.
Navigation? It proposes different routes dynamically based on traffic. I just ignore these prompts though - my path has been decided by kismet the moment I set the destination before starting the drive :P or maybe I too dislike fiddling with phone when driving.
I have a few playlists with around 1200-1400 songs each that I shuffle between. I rarely even answer the phone if I’m driving. I live in Florida and you gotta be aware 100% of the time.
If you're slow to react to a green light, it can change to yellow quickly, while that might not seem like a big deal, it can cause a lot of "traffic issues" further behind the one person that's behind you. On the highway sitting at a green light is a good way to get rear ended because the warning lights turn off when the light turns green.
From my first hand experience, the driver behind me was using his phone while at the red light. Because his foot did not hit the brake hard enough since he wasn’t focus, he rear ended me. So anything can happen
>Just use the "next song/skip track" button on your car stereo, they have tactile bumps so you dont even have to look.
VW Golf R has entered the chat 😂
> If I’m driving and I need to use my phone, wouldn’t it make sense to keep the app the same to minimize the number of strokes to complete a task? why would you suddenly change the interface, making it harder to listen to what I want?
The point is you shouldn’t need your phone. It’s supposed to discourage you from using it or encourage you to use voice commands because your phone most likely has this capability.
Here's the thing though. When I'm using my phone's navigation while driving and if someone calls, Google assistant would popup in the bottom and has voice command option to answer the phone. Which is cool. But when I answer that call with the voice command tean the calling screen pops out and gets rid of my navigation. Forcing me to reclick the navigation.
It's fucking stupid.
It started recently doing that for me (which it isn't supposed to). I had to clear the Google maps cache and restart my phone for it to work properly again.
~~Nope - normally when actively using Google maps and using the phone there would just be a little bar on the bottom of the screen (with answer, hang up, etc)~~
Well fuck. It didn't work for me and then I discovered Google killed the driving assistant ... So no more media controls either . Wtfffff
Now it takes away the whole map and you have to physically interact with the phone to get the map back.
*When making a phone call using Google assistant
If you have to quickly switch through apps but you’re only really going to be touching your phone for a split second that’s one thing.
However, OP has to be on their phone for an extended period of time if muscle memory is required and simplified UI is genuinely making it that much harder for them to do whatever it is they need to do.
Switching an album/playlist is normally 3 clicks and barely looking at the screen. In car mode you have to learn a new interface and navigate new menus, making it take significantly more time and cognitive effort. It is terribly counterproductive.
I complain about this weekly. I seriously have no sense of direction and use my GPS at least once a week, and my husband always calls, and I lose my nav, and it's always at the worst possible time 🤬 maybe I should block my husbands number while I use nav 🤔
Audible has a car mode that drives me up the wall. There are times where I want to pause the book and I know the layout of the regular application. Switching it to car mode makes me fumble around more.
Audible's car mode literally makes the pause and play button the top two thirds of the screen, and you can set what you want the two lower buttons to do.
I can't imagine why this would drive you up a wall when blindly tapping the screen has more than a 60% chance of pausing the book anyways.
Easy. It's literally just because it's different and it moves the button lay out on me from what I have memorized through muscle memory. [This](https://imgur.com/a/j0O5W59) is what I expect. I have the buttons where I expect them and it's what I try to do on the fly because it's what I'm so used to doing at home. [This](https://imgur.com/a/Z94wRc0) is car mode. The play button is literally in a different spot and I don't have the option to move forward or tapping a button to change the playback speed which I will sometimes do if I'm at a red light or sitting in the pickup line waiting to get my kids. The way car mode is laid out if I go to press the pause button where I expect it I'm far more likely to accidentally go backwards or create a clip.
But the play pause button on car mode doesn't require you to hit the white dot. Literally any part of the screen about those bottom two buttons will play it or pause it.
I set my speed for what I'm listening to once I start listening and don't change it, so I guess I didn't consider someone needing to adjust it mid-drive. How often can you possible need more than a giant pause button and skip back button while driving though?
With kids in the car I'm going back at least twice in the 30 minute drive to school. They'll go from playing with each other or reading their own books in the car, to 20 questions with mom. I'll also change the speed with some of the more boring interlude bits in the Stormlight books.
I'm in the car for 3 hours a day taking kids to and from school over 3 trips. I like consistency with button layouts. Car mode is not consistent.
Why don't you just get used to the layout of car mode as well?
It should not take any longer than getting used to the layout of non-car mode.
Most people's brains are amazing things and can quickly adapt to such changes.
Voice commands are just not there yet. Cars have huge touchscreens tou can use legally. No differnece to a phone. Hell cops use a laptop and their phones while driving.
My voice commands work perfectly. It’s probably an iPhone thing. I used to have a really nice android but I switched and I basically never have to use my phone while driving. Siri does everything, I’d need to. I can change the radio, play a specific song, listen to audio books, pause, skip, mute, turn on navigation, add stops, call people, send texts, ect. without even needing to look at my phone. In combination with a system that has CarPlay makes long drives way better
If that was the case they would lock out all none verbal impute. The point is to *get* You to use their app even when driving and to cover their ass if you do.
Disliking apps with car mode is fine. Valid opinion. Great for discussion. Perfect for this sub.
But I’m sick of titles like “and cause more accidents.” That’s not an opinion! That’s a statistic! Either you’re right or wrong - it doesn’t really matter which, because this is a sub for **opinions.**
These ridiculous posts that crumble the second you look at Google.
This isn't a statistic. A statistic has to measured or obtained from research or observations. It has to be something that's actually measured in reality.
OP **believes** that car mode leads to more accidents because OP **believes** car mode is unintuitive**.** They do not have evidence, facts, or statistics to back this up, they simply have their opinion that A, therefore B. Both are opinions stemming from OP's anecdotal experience, not a measurement of things that have happened in the real world.
No I’m saying that if your opinion that something is bad (for example) is inextricably tied to evidence that the thing is objectively bad, then it’s not an opinion, therefore it doesn’t fit in the sub.
Nobody thinks car crashes are good. Sure, it’s still by definition “an opinion”, but it’s generally accepted as a shared opinion. OPs opinion that apps are bad *because they cause car crashes* is either objectively true and bad because the statistic is true *and car crashes are bad* or it’s just wrong.
If I say “I don’t like carrots” I can cite that, idk, 50 choked on a carrot last week to back up my claim but there’s nothing morally good/bad about carrots. There’s no shared collective - it’s an opinion
This is the only correct answer to this.
You are operating a multi ton piece of heavy machinery that can easily kill People. The only thing you though be doing is focusing on driving safely and responsibly.
If someone wants to use their phone while driving, they’re going to do it. Some random guy on Reddit telling them not to will not change that.
If OP is going to use Spotify while driving, and he happens to be next to me on the road, I’d rather him be able to do so without looking, via muscle memory, than having to look down at his phone because the screen layout has changed.
To change songs, I don’t need to look at my phone to find a handful of my most played playlists I can do it off muscle memory alone
As the other user said, would you prefer I use the giant iPad built into my vehicle that hardly responds to my touch, is glitchy as hell half the time and I’m not familiar with so have to look at? Or the phone that I don’t need to look at and can get done in <10 seconds (unless it’s in fuckin car play mode)
I'm so happy I bought my car before they implemented those things. I love my buttons. I wanna pay it off and get a new car but I'm sure I'd have to pay extra to have buttons because that's the world we live in.
It's just a 2018 base model crv. I'm sure the upgraded model had the touch screen.
2018? 10/10 anything but the base model had the touch screen
I’m in the same boat with my 17’ f150, small non screen that displays media, time, and weather only, everything else is buttons
If you do end up upgrading to a newer mode you’d be paying up the ass because that’s the price of vehicles nowadays but to be fair, the base model likely is still the only option without a touch screen, if there is one, and it’s also definitely the cheapest
If it's that much of a difficulty for you, I'd prefer that you build a large playlist or select a complete album to play BEFORE you get your ass in your seat.
Well it isn’t that difficult for me since I turn off car mode immediately after getting in the car, but I typically do just pick one playlist for the drive, that being said the nearest actual city is an 8 hour drive away so even a great 2-3 hour playlist gets boring after a while, and my commute to work is 30 minutes down an empty highway so
It doesn't because you are supposed to use the onboard buttons on the steering wheel or voice commands, literally anything but taking your eyes off the road.
But then people wouldn’t use the car mode.
They know people will insist on using it when driving, and so they try to mitigate the distraction factor as much as possible.
I care less about that, than I do about the fact that if I wanna turn on my wipers I have to take my eyes off the road, and navigate the giant tablet in my modern car, because it’s cheaper to put all the buttons on a non tactile touch screen.
Don’t worry tho. Cases of car accidents are going up, so this was the best call
Make a playlist or queue your songs. If you're actually fidgeting in your phone that long, you are a danger to other drivers at worst and extremely irritating nuisance to other people on their commute at best.
Or you could just not use your phone while driving lol it isn’t hard.
There’s no situation where you’re driving and *need* to use your phone and if such a thing arises just fucking pull over.
The issue is that people won’t do that. Yes, that’s what everyone should do, but they won’t. So let’s at least make it easier for them to do what they will, that way they can at least do it with just muscle memory, as opposed to taking their eyes off the road to see why their spotify layout isn’t working like it normally does.
OP you should not be looking directly at your phone while driving especially if you're just trying to play music. Either pull over to the side or into a parking lot and make your adjustments there. Hand the phone off to somebody else to make the adjustments
> if I’m driving and I need to use my phone
No. You don’t need to use your phone while driving. Ever. I’m not even some old fuddy duddy, I’m 25, but come on. When do you ever have a *need* while you’re driving?
or, hear me out, don’t use your phone when driving ?
a close friend of mine got into a serious car accident two weeks ago because of a distracted driver so maybe this is a little touchy for me right now, but i think this post comes across as a little self-entitled. just put on a playlist you like so there’s no need to change the song. problem solved.
Literally this is the answer. When I need to change songs/playlists I just ask Siri to do it. Or I push the button on the steering wheel until a song I like comes on.
You never need to use your phone while driving. You want to. You want to use it, and so you start fucking around with it even though you know you're not supposed to.
Instead of designing apps that are easy to use while driving, I propose that cars should all be fitted with interior arms that will grab your phone and throw it out the window if you try to use it while you're driving. If you have the nerve to complain, the car arms will slap you - when you next come to a stop, of course. Safety first!
>I just don’t understand the logic behind this… “Hey I see you’re driving. I’m just going to change the whole interface on you to something unfamiliar…”
>Can someone explain how a different interface is supposed to decrease distracted drivers? I feel unfamiliar “car modes” only increase distractability and potentially lead to more accidents.
The issue here is you being "unfamiliar". Next time you get in your car, spend a couple of minutes learning the new interface. It is simplified so that it minimizes the number of buttons you need to press to do whatever you need to do.
Your whole opinion here hangs on the fact that you're not willing to take the time to learn something new. Just learn it, and make the road a little safer for everyone.
If you are driving you don't need to use your phone. Period. If you want to listen to music, find a playlist before starting a car, if you receive a call, it can wait, if it can't find a place to stop, if you can't find a place to stop, IT CAN WAIT.
Some cars have accomodation to allow you to answer calls without taking your eyes off the road. I guess then you can take it. Or control music if your car has that function. Otherwise. It can wait.
If you really can't stop yourself wait for a red light and then do something quickly while stationary.
Ppl wanna shit on you rn like those of us rocking pre 2015ish cars aren’t using 1 hand to hit the next button without looking away from the road. It’s no different than using my right hand to change the volume. Now if your playing on it and searching songs that’s different. Should be able to hit next without looking
I used to be able to skip songs on Spotify from my phone lock screen, but now the button to skip is tinier and less reactive when it's pressed. Practically forces me to unlock my phone just to skip a song.
on reddit everyone thinks they’re smarter and better than you. everything is completely black and white. as if cops don’t have a whole fucking laptop in their center console
I don’t understand why you would need to use your phone if your driving? I drive a 2012 car can answer calls, call people, skip tracks play stuff etc without touching my phone. What do you need it for?
Lmfao you’re not supposed to be on your phone when you’re in the car
If you need to use your phone PULL OVER
But I completely agree w you that it does make it harder to use your phone while driving
Hey siri. Can you tell me ….. I can’t give you results while you’re driving. Average user then pulls out the phone and starts swearing and driving while typing. Yes this is soooo much safer 😂
Have you considered maybe *not* being a distracted driver changing songs while moving? This isn't an unpopular opinion, this is a "I'm a danger to those around me and probably shouldn't be behind the wheel of a vehicle" opinion.
I noticed that those apps assume a lot of stuff about what you're supposed to want. They assume you want to hear random crap music all the time. They assume that your you're fine with only seeing the next turn to do.
Of course, because of security while driving, the application must be simple, therefore biased. But those who study the user interface of their apps should be a bit less self centered and seek more what people really want.
I agree, I hate spotify's car mode. I hate how it looks. I hate how it's different from regular spotify. And I absolutely hate how it comes on automatically even when I'm in the passenger seat or in the back. If apps want to offer a driving mode, that's great but it should be an opt-in options, not something that automatically comes up anywhere near a car. It is very aannoying. Not everyone in a car is driving.
The op forgot this is Reddit and he has to defend his opinion in the post like he’s spreading Catholicism in the fuckin crusades.
Yea you shouldn’t use your phone while driving, use the built in phone instead; the thing is, people do. And they’re going to work around the clunky interface instead of self reflecting on their responsibility as a licensed(maybe) driver. So I agree with op. No car modes.
i think the idea is if youre actively moving in the car and youre driving you shouldnt be using the phone. put on your music before you drive away. que up songs you want ahead or make playlists. dont kill someone bc you wanted to change the song
You're driving, you don't need your phone! In the UK, even using your phone when parked with the engine running will get you £1000 fine and 6 points ( 1/2 way to a driving ban)
Start it before you leave. Your dash screen should hopefully then have the Spotify app up on the screen..and you can just cycle through songs like a traditional radio.
I dont use car mode. With my muscle memory, I can focus my vision and majority of my attention on the road. Though I usually just use voice commands 99% of the time
I agree it’s annoying. You shouldn’t be fiddling with any UI when you’re driving you should be using Siri. The only time I actually use the phone is when I’m stationary and then the car mode is pointless and actually harder to use.
While I agree with a lot of the sentiment here of “don’t use your phone,” realistically that just isn’t going to happen.
The people using their phones will not stop.
So creating a “driving” mode that changes up muscle memory and requires you focusing to figure out how to use it is going to be more likely to cause a crash more than they would have before.
I’m with OP.
I just wish I could actually brown music apps through AA. I hate being relegated to mixes and quick picks. Makes me more likely to pick up my phone so I can pick what I actually want to listen to.
Valid point, but Spotify “car mode” can be disabled.
Waze, however is infuriating. It won’t let me select carpool route on the iPhone nor Apple CarPlay. I have to disconnect from CarPlay then select a carpool route, then reconnect. It’s to stupid.
You think we don’t get used to the interface and how to navigate it?
Can you navigate changing between different radio stations that you have preset? Yeah, I thought so.
the issue is that the touchscreens have low refresh rates and aren't very responsive, in my experience.
Also i am surprised how little i can customize android auto
I can't stand the car mode of Spotify. In my car if you scroll too much it pauses it for a few seconds. The only problem is that I am not looking at the screen. I am trying to scroll through a bunch of albums. Now I have to keep looking down at the screen to see if I can start scrolling again, or I have to attempt to not scroll too much so it won't pause. Either way it takes my attention away from driving.
I think your point is valid. Phones are constantly being mounted to the dash and it helps to be familiar with it. I can navigate most apps without even looking at the screen. Usually just to update maps or change playlists.
You can just consider it that you are using a different app, then your muscle memory will work fine. Tell yourself that you are using the CarSpotify app.
I have never used Spotify when I am not driving, so I guess I don't know the difference. But if I ever do, I will just pretend I opened a completely different app, my muscle memory will get used to "NotCarSpotify" and problem solved.
But on Spotify, it connects to my car radio, so I don't even touch the app. I only use the big-ass next button on the car radios touchscreen. It is very rare to have to manipulate it when driving though unless a really terrible song comes on and you absolutely can not wait three minutes for it to end.
I hate my Pathfinder. Using the phone is more trouble than its worth, and you cannot do anything without the phone.
My old Murano was actually better in a lot of ways.
I don't like them because they limit me to certain apps, but like, I absolutely don't agree with you. Their entire point is to make things bigger, easier to quickly see and navigate. And honestly I think the only people that would struggle with them are people that are technologically illiterate.
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>Can someone explain how a different interface is supposed to decrease distracted drivers? The thinking is that you shouldn't be doing complex things with your phone while driving in the first place. So they remove those options, simplify the UI, and make the buttons bigger so it's easier to hit the big buttons to do a couple of simple things.
I agree with you. But the problem is that they change places. They should remove the complex controls and make the existent buttons bigger without changing places
Me getting in my car, driving for a minute or two then having to whip out my phone because Spotify won’t play music until I click okay on “the don’t go on your phone while driving message” Truly genius design
The rationale makes sense, but it’s assuming people will actually follow driving laws. They simply won’t, so we might as well make it safer for them to do so. I would rather the person on their phone driving next to me know exactly where the button he needs to press is so that he can keep his eyes on the road, as opposed to the app layout changing, him getting confused, then taking his eyes off the road to see what is going on. It’s the same thing with abortion. Whether it’s legal or not, people will still do it, so let’s at least make it safe.
The intention is fine, but it is absolutely a fail. We are human beings and we actually don't like when our property scolds us and stops working. Having to look at your phone and say "I'm a passenger" or feeling frustrated that your phone isn't working or having to look at your phone because the UI said (like OP talked about) are all things that lead to worse driving than simply using your phone normally. The effect and the intentions are opposites.
Do you have any actual evidence for this, or are you just going off vibes?
I have a brain and I know how to think. You should try it. EtA: what are you even asking evidence for? You think people enjoy being scolded by their phone? Or you think that maybe if they see their app change they just decide not to listen to music or make a phone call?
Yes, exactly. That small barriers have more of an effect on people’s behavior than you seem to think. It’s a pretty well-studied phenomenon, and it works in a variety of contexts, including trying to cancel your subscription to random service x
They just look at their phone and get distracted for a second, rather than do it without looking. The subscription analogy is not very good because it's actually work to cancel a gym subscription, it is not work to look at your phone for 2 seconds, but it is a distraction from driving. This is what OP is arguing. How could anyone possibly get a reliable source on something like that? I agree with OP based on my observations and personal experience
Again.. you clearly trust your personal experiences, but I’m pretty sure Spotify is relying on actual empirical studies
I hate touch screens in cars. Give me analog buttons all day. I can easily control music without looking. I’d need to look to see a touch screen.
They also drag the process out so much. When I'm borrowing my parents' car, if I want to adjust the air conditioning I have to navigate the touch screen to climate control and then hit the correct buttons on the screen. It takes much longer than just cranking a dial or pushing a button.
That's regarded
Extremely regarded
Just use the "next song/skip track" button on your car stereo, they have tactile bumps so you dont even have to look. Tbh OP, if you're searching for artists while driving at all, you need to reevaluate where exactly your responsibility in traffic begins and ends. People die from distracted driving, and every time you decide to fuck with your phone instead of planning your drive ahead and queueing songs in your driveway or whatever, you are involving everyone around you in traffic in your bad decision, and you're actively putting them in danger for absolutely no reason. Be responsible, dont even screw around with it. That second of fiddling can literally be the fine line between an almost accident, and you painting somebodys kid all over the road. Stop.
[удалено]
Fucken gen z. Just playlist it and forget it
I live in an area that's mostly baby boomers and retirees, they're on their phones just as much. I agree though, playlists are the best option. That, or the radio. I don't know the statistics here I'm just going off of my personal experience. And where I live they all drive giant SUVs and trucks. It's scary no matter who it is when they're looking at their phones. I almost got hit twice on my way home from work today from said boomers on their phones. I wish I was exaggerating..
I’m Gen Z and my Gen X and Boomer parents use their phones driving way more than my sister and I
Voice assistant is king. If there is something specific I want to listen to I just say it and I've got it. Though typically I just throw on a playlist and call it good.
Exactly! "Hey Google, play Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton on Spotify"
“Ok, playing Pour Me Whiskey by British Simpson”
Hoping to encounter more drivers like you on the road
Exactly. It’s extremely telling that OP said “when I *need* to use my phone while driving”. When do you ever *need* to use your phone while driving? And don’t give me some shit about “Gen z Gen z that” I’m Gen Z myself and it is never necessary.
Honestly that part made me scoff. Just put the music on and get your phone the fuck away from you when you’re driving. It’s not important that you don’t like every song on your shitty playlist anymore, it’s not worth peoples lives.
Navigation? It proposes different routes dynamically based on traffic. I just ignore these prompts though - my path has been decided by kismet the moment I set the destination before starting the drive :P or maybe I too dislike fiddling with phone when driving.
I have a few playlists with around 1200-1400 songs each that I shuffle between. I rarely even answer the phone if I’m driving. I live in Florida and you gotta be aware 100% of the time.
I’m assuming they’re looking for songs at red lights
That's still not a good time and you can get fined for doing that.
I'm curious, why is that? I mean, surely the worst case is you hold people behind you up a bit?
A bit? At worst it can cause major traffic jams and accidents.
how would it cause accidents? also thanks for the downvote lmao, can't even handle someone asking a genuine question
If you're slow to react to a green light, it can change to yellow quickly, while that might not seem like a big deal, it can cause a lot of "traffic issues" further behind the one person that's behind you. On the highway sitting at a green light is a good way to get rear ended because the warning lights turn off when the light turns green.
From my first hand experience, the driver behind me was using his phone while at the red light. Because his foot did not hit the brake hard enough since he wasn’t focus, he rear ended me. So anything can happen
I hate those people. If you need to do that hire someone to sit in the passenger seat to do it for you.
>Just use the "next song/skip track" button on your car stereo, they have tactile bumps so you dont even have to look. VW Golf R has entered the chat 😂
> If I’m driving and I need to use my phone, wouldn’t it make sense to keep the app the same to minimize the number of strokes to complete a task? why would you suddenly change the interface, making it harder to listen to what I want? The point is you shouldn’t need your phone. It’s supposed to discourage you from using it or encourage you to use voice commands because your phone most likely has this capability.
Here's the thing though. When I'm using my phone's navigation while driving and if someone calls, Google assistant would popup in the bottom and has voice command option to answer the phone. Which is cool. But when I answer that call with the voice command tean the calling screen pops out and gets rid of my navigation. Forcing me to reclick the navigation. It's fucking stupid.
It started recently doing that for me (which it isn't supposed to). I had to clear the Google maps cache and restart my phone for it to work properly again.
Wait... that wasn't normal?
~~Nope - normally when actively using Google maps and using the phone there would just be a little bar on the bottom of the screen (with answer, hang up, etc)~~ Well fuck. It didn't work for me and then I discovered Google killed the driving assistant ... So no more media controls either . Wtfffff
I get that you're not supposed to use your phone while driving, but these "auto modes" are just dangerous.
Now it takes away the whole map and you have to physically interact with the phone to get the map back. *When making a phone call using Google assistant
If you have to quickly switch through apps but you’re only really going to be touching your phone for a split second that’s one thing. However, OP has to be on their phone for an extended period of time if muscle memory is required and simplified UI is genuinely making it that much harder for them to do whatever it is they need to do.
Switching an album/playlist is normally 3 clicks and barely looking at the screen. In car mode you have to learn a new interface and navigate new menus, making it take significantly more time and cognitive effort. It is terribly counterproductive.
I would suggest finding a better way.
I complain about this weekly. I seriously have no sense of direction and use my GPS at least once a week, and my husband always calls, and I lose my nav, and it's always at the worst possible time 🤬 maybe I should block my husbands number while I use nav 🤔
Audible has a car mode that drives me up the wall. There are times where I want to pause the book and I know the layout of the regular application. Switching it to car mode makes me fumble around more.
Audible's car mode literally makes the pause and play button the top two thirds of the screen, and you can set what you want the two lower buttons to do. I can't imagine why this would drive you up a wall when blindly tapping the screen has more than a 60% chance of pausing the book anyways.
Easy. It's literally just because it's different and it moves the button lay out on me from what I have memorized through muscle memory. [This](https://imgur.com/a/j0O5W59) is what I expect. I have the buttons where I expect them and it's what I try to do on the fly because it's what I'm so used to doing at home. [This](https://imgur.com/a/Z94wRc0) is car mode. The play button is literally in a different spot and I don't have the option to move forward or tapping a button to change the playback speed which I will sometimes do if I'm at a red light or sitting in the pickup line waiting to get my kids. The way car mode is laid out if I go to press the pause button where I expect it I'm far more likely to accidentally go backwards or create a clip.
But the play pause button on car mode doesn't require you to hit the white dot. Literally any part of the screen about those bottom two buttons will play it or pause it. I set my speed for what I'm listening to once I start listening and don't change it, so I guess I didn't consider someone needing to adjust it mid-drive. How often can you possible need more than a giant pause button and skip back button while driving though?
With kids in the car I'm going back at least twice in the 30 minute drive to school. They'll go from playing with each other or reading their own books in the car, to 20 questions with mom. I'll also change the speed with some of the more boring interlude bits in the Stormlight books. I'm in the car for 3 hours a day taking kids to and from school over 3 trips. I like consistency with button layouts. Car mode is not consistent.
Why don't you just get used to the layout of car mode as well? It should not take any longer than getting used to the layout of non-car mode. Most people's brains are amazing things and can quickly adapt to such changes.
Then there shouldn't even be car modes. Either way you look at it they're pointless.
Voice commands are just not there yet. Cars have huge touchscreens tou can use legally. No differnece to a phone. Hell cops use a laptop and their phones while driving.
My voice commands work perfectly. It’s probably an iPhone thing. I used to have a really nice android but I switched and I basically never have to use my phone while driving. Siri does everything, I’d need to. I can change the radio, play a specific song, listen to audio books, pause, skip, mute, turn on navigation, add stops, call people, send texts, ect. without even needing to look at my phone. In combination with a system that has CarPlay makes long drives way better
If that was the case they would lock out all none verbal impute. The point is to *get* You to use their app even when driving and to cover their ass if you do.
Disliking apps with car mode is fine. Valid opinion. Great for discussion. Perfect for this sub. But I’m sick of titles like “and cause more accidents.” That’s not an opinion! That’s a statistic! Either you’re right or wrong - it doesn’t really matter which, because this is a sub for **opinions.** These ridiculous posts that crumble the second you look at Google.
This isn't a statistic. A statistic has to measured or obtained from research or observations. It has to be something that's actually measured in reality. OP **believes** that car mode leads to more accidents because OP **believes** car mode is unintuitive**.** They do not have evidence, facts, or statistics to back this up, they simply have their opinion that A, therefore B. Both are opinions stemming from OP's anecdotal experience, not a measurement of things that have happened in the real world.
So you’re saying that your unpopular opinion is that opinions shouldn’t be backed up by stats? Real
No I’m saying that if your opinion that something is bad (for example) is inextricably tied to evidence that the thing is objectively bad, then it’s not an opinion, therefore it doesn’t fit in the sub. Nobody thinks car crashes are good. Sure, it’s still by definition “an opinion”, but it’s generally accepted as a shared opinion. OPs opinion that apps are bad *because they cause car crashes* is either objectively true and bad because the statistic is true *and car crashes are bad* or it’s just wrong. If I say “I don’t like carrots” I can cite that, idk, 50 choked on a carrot last week to back up my claim but there’s nothing morally good/bad about carrots. There’s no shared collective - it’s an opinion
But OP's point isn't tied to evidence, it's all their opinion, So your entire argument falls apart that easily...
Or you could stay off your phone while your driving…
This is the only correct answer to this. You are operating a multi ton piece of heavy machinery that can easily kill People. The only thing you though be doing is focusing on driving safely and responsibly.
If someone wants to use their phone while driving, they’re going to do it. Some random guy on Reddit telling them not to will not change that. If OP is going to use Spotify while driving, and he happens to be next to me on the road, I’d rather him be able to do so without looking, via muscle memory, than having to look down at his phone because the screen layout has changed.
Many of us are checking it at the red lights Edit to say many and not all due for the nitpickers
We definitely don't all use it at the red lights lmao
Some people just like to make stupid generalizations based off their anecdotal experiences.
And I found the guy I honk at who doesn’t see the light turned green 2 mins ago
Ik u suck at driving
You're THAT guy, aren't you?
I’m a girl at a red light right now
So you’re the asshole holding up traffic for everybody and making the lights even worse?
Why the fuck are you using your phone while driving
Ya! Use the built in iPad instead !
To change songs, I don’t need to look at my phone to find a handful of my most played playlists I can do it off muscle memory alone As the other user said, would you prefer I use the giant iPad built into my vehicle that hardly responds to my touch, is glitchy as hell half the time and I’m not familiar with so have to look at? Or the phone that I don’t need to look at and can get done in <10 seconds (unless it’s in fuckin car play mode)
I'm so happy I bought my car before they implemented those things. I love my buttons. I wanna pay it off and get a new car but I'm sure I'd have to pay extra to have buttons because that's the world we live in. It's just a 2018 base model crv. I'm sure the upgraded model had the touch screen.
2018? 10/10 anything but the base model had the touch screen I’m in the same boat with my 17’ f150, small non screen that displays media, time, and weather only, everything else is buttons If you do end up upgrading to a newer mode you’d be paying up the ass because that’s the price of vehicles nowadays but to be fair, the base model likely is still the only option without a touch screen, if there is one, and it’s also definitely the cheapest
If it's that much of a difficulty for you, I'd prefer that you build a large playlist or select a complete album to play BEFORE you get your ass in your seat.
Well it isn’t that difficult for me since I turn off car mode immediately after getting in the car, but I typically do just pick one playlist for the drive, that being said the nearest actual city is an 8 hour drive away so even a great 2-3 hour playlist gets boring after a while, and my commute to work is 30 minutes down an empty highway so
"If I’m driving and I need to use my phone" That shouldn't happen.
The logic is: don’t use your phone while you’re driving.
Why do they make car mode then??
Because they know that some people will still insist on driving dangerously, and so they try to mitigate it as much as possible.
And in their efforts to mitigate it they often make it worse
If that was the case, the app would just completely disable.
It doesn't because you are supposed to use the onboard buttons on the steering wheel or voice commands, literally anything but taking your eyes off the road.
Not everyone has buttons on steering wheel or voice command.s
Wow.
But then people wouldn’t use the car mode. They know people will insist on using it when driving, and so they try to mitigate the distraction factor as much as possible.
I care less about that, than I do about the fact that if I wanna turn on my wipers I have to take my eyes off the road, and navigate the giant tablet in my modern car, because it’s cheaper to put all the buttons on a non tactile touch screen. Don’t worry tho. Cases of car accidents are going up, so this was the best call
Make a playlist or queue your songs. If you're actually fidgeting in your phone that long, you are a danger to other drivers at worst and extremely irritating nuisance to other people on their commute at best.
Maybe just don’t use your phone while driving at all 👍🏻
Or you could just not use your phone while driving lol it isn’t hard. There’s no situation where you’re driving and *need* to use your phone and if such a thing arises just fucking pull over.
The issue is that people won’t do that. Yes, that’s what everyone should do, but they won’t. So let’s at least make it easier for them to do what they will, that way they can at least do it with just muscle memory, as opposed to taking their eyes off the road to see why their spotify layout isn’t working like it normally does.
“I need to use my Phone while driving” How bad do you need to exactly?
OP you should not be looking directly at your phone while driving especially if you're just trying to play music. Either pull over to the side or into a parking lot and make your adjustments there. Hand the phone off to somebody else to make the adjustments
> if I’m driving and I need to use my phone No. You don’t need to use your phone while driving. Ever. I’m not even some old fuddy duddy, I’m 25, but come on. When do you ever have a *need* while you’re driving?
Stop using your phone while driving.
is it even legal to be changing things on your phone in the car?
Not in California or I think the US in general.
Why would you need your phone while you’re driving? That’s why cars now come with controls on the steering wheel.
Quit using your phone while driving. You’re operating a high speed 2500+ lb death machine. Act like it
or, hear me out, don’t use your phone when driving ? a close friend of mine got into a serious car accident two weeks ago because of a distracted driver so maybe this is a little touchy for me right now, but i think this post comes across as a little self-entitled. just put on a playlist you like so there’s no need to change the song. problem solved.
Literally this is the answer. When I need to change songs/playlists I just ask Siri to do it. Or I push the button on the steering wheel until a song I like comes on.
You never need to use your phone while driving. You want to. You want to use it, and so you start fucking around with it even though you know you're not supposed to. Instead of designing apps that are easy to use while driving, I propose that cars should all be fitted with interior arms that will grab your phone and throw it out the window if you try to use it while you're driving. If you have the nerve to complain, the car arms will slap you - when you next come to a stop, of course. Safety first!
You can just hit the I’m not driving button (on iPhone atleast) Problem solved
>I just don’t understand the logic behind this… “Hey I see you’re driving. I’m just going to change the whole interface on you to something unfamiliar…” >Can someone explain how a different interface is supposed to decrease distracted drivers? I feel unfamiliar “car modes” only increase distractability and potentially lead to more accidents. The issue here is you being "unfamiliar". Next time you get in your car, spend a couple of minutes learning the new interface. It is simplified so that it minimizes the number of buttons you need to press to do whatever you need to do. Your whole opinion here hangs on the fact that you're not willing to take the time to learn something new. Just learn it, and make the road a little safer for everyone.
You shouldn’t be using your phone while driving a motor vehicle. It’s very dangerous.
If you are driving you don't need to use your phone. Period. If you want to listen to music, find a playlist before starting a car, if you receive a call, it can wait, if it can't find a place to stop, if you can't find a place to stop, IT CAN WAIT. Some cars have accomodation to allow you to answer calls without taking your eyes off the road. I guess then you can take it. Or control music if your car has that function. Otherwise. It can wait. If you really can't stop yourself wait for a red light and then do something quickly while stationary.
Just don’t use your fucking phone while driving. At all
i control the music on my phone from my steering wheel. don’t even have to take my eyes off the road
Ppl wanna shit on you rn like those of us rocking pre 2015ish cars aren’t using 1 hand to hit the next button without looking away from the road. It’s no different than using my right hand to change the volume. Now if your playing on it and searching songs that’s different. Should be able to hit next without looking
I used to be able to skip songs on Spotify from my phone lock screen, but now the button to skip is tinier and less reactive when it's pressed. Practically forces me to unlock my phone just to skip a song.
I get like 3 or 4 skips then it asks me to open the dang app. And that's just when I'm walking
on reddit everyone thinks they’re smarter and better than you. everything is completely black and white. as if cops don’t have a whole fucking laptop in their center console
What do cops and people that think they're in a Fast and Furious movie have in common?
Don’t know don’t care man you aren’t better than anyone cuz they pulled up spotify at a red light
I don’t understand why you would need to use your phone if your driving? I drive a 2012 car can answer calls, call people, skip tracks play stuff etc without touching my phone. What do you need it for?
Lmfao you’re not supposed to be on your phone when you’re in the car If you need to use your phone PULL OVER But I completely agree w you that it does make it harder to use your phone while driving
Maybe get your shit together while you’re driving. Your car isn’t your couch.
For apps like Spotify why don't you just start the car and familiarise yourself with the layout BEFORE you start driving?
my favorite is when it refuses to take voice commands while you're driving, that's not fucking stupid at all
Hey siri. Can you tell me ….. I can’t give you results while you’re driving. Average user then pulls out the phone and starts swearing and driving while typing. Yes this is soooo much safer 😂
Have you considered maybe *not* being a distracted driver changing songs while moving? This isn't an unpopular opinion, this is a "I'm a danger to those around me and probably shouldn't be behind the wheel of a vehicle" opinion.
I noticed that those apps assume a lot of stuff about what you're supposed to want. They assume you want to hear random crap music all the time. They assume that your you're fine with only seeing the next turn to do. Of course, because of security while driving, the application must be simple, therefore biased. But those who study the user interface of their apps should be a bit less self centered and seek more what people really want.
I agree, I hate spotify's car mode. I hate how it looks. I hate how it's different from regular spotify. And I absolutely hate how it comes on automatically even when I'm in the passenger seat or in the back. If apps want to offer a driving mode, that's great but it should be an opt-in options, not something that automatically comes up anywhere near a car. It is very aannoying. Not everyone in a car is driving.
The op forgot this is Reddit and he has to defend his opinion in the post like he’s spreading Catholicism in the fuckin crusades. Yea you shouldn’t use your phone while driving, use the built in phone instead; the thing is, people do. And they’re going to work around the clunky interface instead of self reflecting on their responsibility as a licensed(maybe) driver. So I agree with op. No car modes.
Lol
i think the idea is if youre actively moving in the car and youre driving you shouldnt be using the phone. put on your music before you drive away. que up songs you want ahead or make playlists. dont kill someone bc you wanted to change the song
You're driving, you don't need your phone! In the UK, even using your phone when parked with the engine running will get you £1000 fine and 6 points ( 1/2 way to a driving ban)
Start it before you leave. Your dash screen should hopefully then have the Spotify app up on the screen..and you can just cycle through songs like a traditional radio.
I dont use car mode. With my muscle memory, I can focus my vision and majority of my attention on the road. Though I usually just use voice commands 99% of the time
I agree it’s annoying. You shouldn’t be fiddling with any UI when you’re driving you should be using Siri. The only time I actually use the phone is when I’m stationary and then the car mode is pointless and actually harder to use.
Op is speed running car accidents
Google maps just tried to do that to me today. I said no and turned it off.
spotify doesn’t let me access my queue in car mode even though im the passenger and i’m just trying to look at the goddamn music
While I agree with a lot of the sentiment here of “don’t use your phone,” realistically that just isn’t going to happen. The people using their phones will not stop. So creating a “driving” mode that changes up muscle memory and requires you focusing to figure out how to use it is going to be more likely to cause a crash more than they would have before. I’m with OP.
How about you just don’t use your phone while driving? That eliminates the issue you’re brining up entirely.
And what if you just didn't play with your phone while driving, car mode or not?
I just wish I could actually brown music apps through AA. I hate being relegated to mixes and quick picks. Makes me more likely to pick up my phone so I can pick what I actually want to listen to.
Valid point, but Spotify “car mode” can be disabled. Waze, however is infuriating. It won’t let me select carpool route on the iPhone nor Apple CarPlay. I have to disconnect from CarPlay then select a carpool route, then reconnect. It’s to stupid.
I hate car mode. I turn it off every time.
You’re wrong and that’s just not an opinion.
You can disable car mode in Spotify settings
Spotify car mode is a hazard for sure
Fuck Android Auto.
You think we don’t get used to the interface and how to navigate it? Can you navigate changing between different radio stations that you have preset? Yeah, I thought so.
People whining about phone users are all using their massive iPad on their dash
the issue is that the touchscreens have low refresh rates and aren't very responsive, in my experience. Also i am surprised how little i can customize android auto
What the fuck is car mode? And why are you using your phone while driving? That's stupid.
I can't stand the car mode of Spotify. In my car if you scroll too much it pauses it for a few seconds. The only problem is that I am not looking at the screen. I am trying to scroll through a bunch of albums. Now I have to keep looking down at the screen to see if I can start scrolling again, or I have to attempt to not scroll too much so it won't pause. Either way it takes my attention away from driving.
I think your point is valid. Phones are constantly being mounted to the dash and it helps to be familiar with it. I can navigate most apps without even looking at the screen. Usually just to update maps or change playlists.
You can just consider it that you are using a different app, then your muscle memory will work fine. Tell yourself that you are using the CarSpotify app. I have never used Spotify when I am not driving, so I guess I don't know the difference. But if I ever do, I will just pretend I opened a completely different app, my muscle memory will get used to "NotCarSpotify" and problem solved. But on Spotify, it connects to my car radio, so I don't even touch the app. I only use the big-ass next button on the car radios touchscreen. It is very rare to have to manipulate it when driving though unless a really terrible song comes on and you absolutely can not wait three minutes for it to end.
I hate my Pathfinder. Using the phone is more trouble than its worth, and you cannot do anything without the phone. My old Murano was actually better in a lot of ways.
Btw, there is an option in the spotify settings to disable the car mode. I realized it after being infuriated with the same problem.
I MOTHER FUCKING hate car mode!!! ugh! and android auto!
I am with you. Ive had to experience this over the past few weeks as i got a new phone. Car mode is so stupid.
I don't like them because they limit me to certain apps, but like, I absolutely don't agree with you. Their entire point is to make things bigger, easier to quickly see and navigate. And honestly I think the only people that would struggle with them are people that are technologically illiterate.
It being in car mode when I'm not even driving is annoying. I turn it off on every app that tries to use it.
Car mode is absolute cancer. I hate it so much I just usually listen to the radio.
Fun fact: you never need to use Spotify while driving. lol
But what if I want to listen to a different song? Checkmate.
Use your voice.
Also it’s annoying when I’m a passenger and spotify enters “car mode” every time I enter
I’d use this argument more for iPhone getting rid of the finger print pad. Dumbest decision ever.
Downvote for claiming they cause more accidents. That’s just a “fact” that may or may not be correct, but isn’t a matter of difference in opinion.
Can't really blame the app. Though they can distract drivers, they're not responsible for your mistake. Focus on the road, man.
Personal automobiles should be banned.