Ten years ago, you'd be lucky to find a GPS in all but the most exclusive vehicle models. But thanks to recent advances in portable technology and huge scales of economy, there's a gadget for just about everything in our cars - and yet, that could be part of a much bigger problem, say New York legislators.
According to a Business First report, legislation banning all forms of electronic distractions has been passed by the New York Senate. This includes playing video games in traffic, sneaking in the occasional text message or even ducking in a for a quick web surfing session while manoeuvring between lanes.
At Kotaku.com, they're criticising New York over the move, comparing the law to an affront on the driver's freedom. Owen Good for Kokatu writes that "Putting on makeup, shaving, beating your children, that still isn't specifically proscribed."
Have our cars become too gadget-centric? In a world of cheap eBay knock-offs, sub-$100 LCD screens and in-car DVD and Blu-Ray players, drivers can contemplate filling their vechicles with technology for accessing the internet via 3G, watching satellite television, peering at rear-vision and side-vision cameras and playing cutting edge video games.
In Australia, it's already illegal to use your phone while driving and texting at the wheel.
Gadgets such as GPSs have their role, but is it too much to suggest that video gaming in the car serves a similar purpose?
Perhaps the separation of gadget and auto motoring is a chance to make drivers realise that our cars are not necessarily the roving longue rooms on wheels we'd hope them to be.
Agree or disagree? Should we ban more of our car gadgets? Let us know in the comments below.