Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Ad Nauseam

Garmin: Chat, Navigate and Steer — But Don’t Drive Distracted

The first time I saw this ad I thought my eyes and ears were deceiving me. But no, there it is: a young woman holding a cellphone toward the camera as "nüvifone" maker Garmin beckons viewers to "communicate while navigating."

"With my nüvifone, I can take calls from my friends while I'm driving to them," she says as she's shown piloting an SUV with two passengers, one of whom accepts an incoming call on a phone mounted to the windshield. (Note to Garmin: Hands-free is not brain-free.)

Maybe the most egregious aspect is the "Do not drive while distracted" disclaimer -- which pops up as the young woman is depicted driving while distracted.

nuviphonegrab.jpg

What the ad doesn't show: The driver plows her SUV through one of the pedestrian-populated shots that follow, and bystanders whip out their nüvifones to call 911, text their friends and photograph the carnage.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Tisch Will Stay On — So Is That a Good Thing?

So the mayor-elect says he'll keep Jessica Tisch as his police commissioner. What do we think of that?

November 20, 2025

AGENDA 2026: Mamdani Must Reduce, Digitize Parking Placards

Mayor-elect Mamdani must face down the placard class to regain control of New York City streets.

November 20, 2025

Upstate Transit Agencies are Starving As State Slows Funding

Advocates are hoping for better luck next year as local transit authorities warn of service reductions, and the funding ask may have an ingenious solution.

November 20, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: ‘Kwame’ Edition

It's exciting that the mayor and the president will meet. Plus other news.

November 20, 2025

Lyft Hoses Citi Bike Riders Compared to Bike-Share in Other Cities: Report

The price of a yearly Citi Bike membership has grown by 77 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars since the bike-share program launched 2013, the Independent Budget Office said.

November 19, 2025

Most People Don’t Drive To Court Street: DOT

And more people bike than drive on the Brooklyn street!

November 19, 2025
See all posts