Having a television installed inside a car is not a new idea. I remember seeing that kind of setup at least 15 or 20 years ago when I was a kid. Back then, the only vehicles that had televisions were minivans or high-end luxury cars such as Mercedes. I always thought it would be cool to have a TV in the car, but my parents, of course, did not share this youthful enthusiasm. They were pretty sure that the trend would be short-lived due to the increased number of accidents that were bound to occur because of distracted drivers.
Well, here it is all these years later and, far from disappearing, the trend has really taken off. Almost all minivans now come with an option for a television and DVD player in the rear passenger area. This can really be a lifesaver for parents who take their children on long road trips, as I can personally attest. Mom or Dad can just bring along a few DVDs and the kids will be occupied for hours. The peace that comes as a result of having a TV/DVD combo in the car is well worth the few hundred dollars that the option costs!
More and more luxury cars have televisions inside them now. Some owners even go one step further and have gaming systems such as PlayStation 2 or X-Box installed along with the regular TV/DVD combo. This is a very popular thing for professional athletes to do. I've read several newspaper articles that mentioned high-profile athletes who roll up to the stadium playing video games in their cars while someone else drives them. I guess if you make millions anyway, you just consider the cost of options like this to be chump change.
It's not really a surprise that high-rollers have gaming systems set up in their cars. Instead, the biggest surprise to me is how many regular cars owned by regular people now have televisions inside them. A lot of this has to do with navigation systems. Almost all navigation systems run from maps that are contained on DVDs, which in turn are displayed to the driver on a television monitor. It is just an easy step to go from watching your vehicle's progress on a map to watching a television program or a movie on that same screen when you are in a familiar area and don't need to follow the map (which I would say is most of the time).
I've noticed many cars with TVs right up in front by the driver. It makes me think of my parents' dire prediction of more accidents because of distracted drivers. I don't have a TV in the front section of my car, so I can't speak from experience here, but would people really keep their eyes on the monitor rather than on the road? I guess I could see it happening if the person were stuck in rush hour traffic that was barely moving. I just can't imagine watching TV while trying to drive at high speeds, though. I hope anyone who has a TV up front because of their navigation system has enough sense to keep their eyes on the road when they are driving!
Personally, I like having a TV in the car. Besides helping my child pass the time on long road trips, it is nice for me too when I climb in the back when my husband is driving. Then, if we are out longer than expected, I can catch the beginning of my favorite TV show or a big sporting event without having to worry about setting up the DVD recorder before we leave the house. There are plenty of conveniences associated with having a TV in the car, but there are legitimate safety concerns also. If you have a TV in your vehicle, or if you are thinking about getting one installed, please remember that safety always comes first!
