Allow N drivers to use onboard GPS systems

Allow N drivers to use onboard GPS systems

Started
October 2, 2020
Petition to
Nicolas Jimenez (President & CEO @ Icbc) and
Signatures: 67Next Goal: 100
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Why this petition matters

Started by Sarah S

One thing novice working class drivers struggle with in British Columbia, asides from steep insurance prices (which the ICBC insists is not, even though it is), and high gas prices, is use of navigation in their vehicles.

Once you get past your L, (which rightfully restricts your usage of onboard electronic devices, especially since you have to have a navigator in your car at all times anyway) you go into your N. The N allows you to drive at a higher level of freedom. However, that means you can drive alone and the restrictions of "no hands-free devices" can cause a lot of problems along the way.

GPS systems built into the car and connected to your phone via Bluetooth are completely outlawed. For context, GPS navigation is a simple, mass produced and intuitive feature built into almost every car nowadays. Why does ICBC insist on deprecated means of navigation, putting young drivers at the risk of either getting harmed by impeding the flow of traffic, pulling over and being hit by an unknowing driver behind, or getting completely lost? Paper maps are a dead technology if you can literally have a computer generated voice tell you when to turn without even looking at a screen. For the environmentally conscious, it's also true that paper has been wasted in the creation of maps for drivers like us. So why push their use?

From the perspective of a future driver, this restriction actually increases the chances that someone will attempt to distracted drive, whether by looking at a paper map or pulling over in an unsafe location because there are no amenities to park at, especially in an urban setting where parking is scarce. Change this, or the future will surely judge your motives.

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Signatures: 67Next Goal: 100
Support now