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

To Prevent Distracted Driving, New App Distracts Drivers

The new dash-mounted technology system Navdy proposes making texting while driving easier. Image: Navdy
The new windshield display system Navdy aims to make texting while driving easier. Image: Navdy
false

The new "heads-up" display system Navdy "feels like driving in the future," according to its producers. The dash-mounted projector displays images from your phone on your windshield. The idea is that you can text and drive while keeping your eyes focused in the right direction. "No more looking down to fumble with knobs, buttons or touch screens," goes the pitch.

James Sinclair at Stop and Move is not impressed:

What the product does is project information from your phone onto your windshield. Some of that information is relevant to driving, such as map navigation, and possibly in the future parking information from SF Park. The rest? Not so much.

Apparently driving is so boring that drivers cannot resist texting and checking emails for the duration of their trip. Navdy comes to the rescue by blowing up your text messages onto your windshield so you don't have to deal with the monotony of driving by instead engaging in a titillating text-based conversation.

The worst part is that this group of entrepreneurs is trying to pitch this as a way to PREVENT distracted driving. Their reasoning is that drivers won't be looking down at their laps, but will continue to look forward. Their video says "you need your eyes in front of you - you need Navdy." Problem is, that's not how distraction works.

When we're focused on reading text, the world in the background may TECHNICALLY continue to be perfectly clear (as our eyes aren't limited in focusing like cameras are), but that doesn't mean our brain is processing it. In reality, it's just as blurred because we've stopped paying attention to everything but the text. Go ahead, look at the image above and read the message - that's all you really see.

Elsewhere on the Streetsblog Network today: Human Transit says frequent transit networks should be a key tool in improving access to healthy food. The Dallas Morning News Transportation Blog reports that the Dallas airport is now connected to rail. And Pedestrian Observations explores the relationship between between restrictive zoning and housing affordability.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Beach Reading: Zohran Mamdani’s Answers to Streetsblog’s Mayoral Candidate Survey

Spend the holiday weekend with Zohran Mamdani's answers to Streetsblog's mayoral candidate questionnaire.

July 4, 2025

Friday Video: Why NYC Needs ‘Low-Traffic Neighborhoods’

London's Church Street, like so many of our business corridors, was choking on cars — until the advent of the low-traffic neighborhood.

July 4, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: E-Bikes in Parks … Permanently Edition

The Parks Department will permanently allow e-bikes in city parks following a two-year pilot. Plus more news.

July 4, 2025

Anti-Miracle On 34th Street: Adams Administration Pauses Work On 34th Street Busway

The highly-anticipated 34th Street busway may not happen under Mayor Adams after all, sources said.

July 3, 2025

Manhattan DA Says Alleged Central Park Hit-and-Run Cyclist Didn’t Flee, Drops Charges

Prosecutors said the 30-year-old cyclist "remained on the scene for about 45 minutes after the crash and waited for paramedics to arrive to treat the injured person."

Sean Duffy’s ‘Great America Road Trip’ Wants You to Drive to Central Park

Sean Duffy's "Great American Road Trip" encourages Americans to drive to sites in the most transit-rich and car-choked parts of the country.

July 3, 2025
See all posts