With the growing trend of adding DVD players and televisions to family vehicles, many families are opting to install the DVD players into their minivan or SUV. They can be added to the ceiling, dashboard, or back of chairs for all members of the vehicle to see. There are many benefits and drawbacks of adding a DVD player to your vehicle; however, many experts say that the disadvantages greatly outweigh the advantages. They do keep individuals occupied and can allow one to catch up on their favorite television shows while in traffic, but more importantly, they often distract the driver and can cause accidents.
The biggest downfall of a DVD player in a vehicle is distraction. The DVD player distracts members of the vehicle in many ways. Children, for example, often fight over what to watch, which can be very distracting to the driver. Other drivers on the road are also often curious about what is on your television. Tailgating and unsafe driving can occur when other drivers try to see what TV show or movie is currently playing inside your vehicle. And while this is in no way your fault, it can still put everyone’s life in danger.
Even if your entertainment system isn’t a distraction, the DVD player may also obstruct your view as a driver. Many DVD players in modern minivans and SUVS hang from the ceiling. By hanging from the ceiling, they often obstruct the view from the rear view mirror. This prevents the driver from seeing cars behind them and in the surrounding area. The size of the monitor ranges from six inches to twenty inches, but even the smallest versions are big enough to obstruct your view from different angles.
Many families go on vacations to explore the world around them, but children are not going to see the beauty of the world if their eyes are glued to the DVD player in the car. Anyone can stay at home and watch television on the couch, so if you have a DVD player in the car, why even bother traveling together? DVD players in vehicles force families to miss out on witnessing the world around them.
Vehicle DVD players can also have adverse health effects. By watching a movie or television show while in a moving vehicle, some people get very sick. Common side effects include headaches, nausea, car sickness, motion sickness, and fatigue. No one enjoys traveling while sick or traveling with a sick companion. It can hold back your trip or cause unscheduled stops.
Finally, the cost of installing a DVD player in a vehicle can be very expensive. The DVD player can come as an addition to the vehicle. Costs range from the mid-hundreds to two or three thousand dollars. Is the distraction really worth it?
The care and safety of every individual in a vehicle is important to the staff of Thornton Chevrolet. Thornton Chevrolet, Central Pennsylvania’s premier Chevy dealer, is a valuable resource for all your car needs and questions. If you are looking to buy a new or used vehicle or to trade in your existing vehicle and you live in the York, Harrisburg, Hanover, or Lancaster, PA area, feel free to stop by one of Thorton’s three locations for a test drive or a free, no obligations quote. For more information, visit Thornton Chevrolet at www.tchevy.com.
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