From the New York Times: They are the most wired vehicles on the road, with dashboard computers, sophisticated radios, navigation systems and cellphones. While such gadgets are widely seen as distractions to be avoided behind the wheel,

While such gadgets are widely seen as distractions to be avoided behind the wheel, there are hundreds of thousands of drivers — police officers and paramedics — who are required to use them, sometimes at high speeds, while weaving . “I can literally drive down the road, speak without holding the microphone, and turn on the lights and sirens without ever looking at the equipment,” said Captain John G. LeLacheur of the New Hampshire State Police, who has driven one of

While such gadgets are widely seen as distractions to be avoided behind the wheel, hundreds of thousands of drivers - police officers and paramedics - are required to use them, sometimes at high speeds, while weaving through traffic, sirens blaring. . John G. LeLacheur of the New Hampshire State Police, who has driven one of the 1000 police cruisers in the United States, mostly in New Hampshire and elsewhere in the Northeast, equipped with the new technology.

While such gadgets are widely seen as distractions to be avoided behind the wheel, hundreds of thousands of drivers - police officers and paramedics - are required to use them, sometimes at high speeds, while weaving through traffic, The New York Fire Department, which coordinates the city's largest ambulance system, said drivers were not supposed to use onboard computers in traffic. That is the role of a driver's partner, and if the partner is in the back tending to

While such gadgets are widely seen as distractions to be avoided behind the wheel, hundreds of thousands of drivers - police officers and paramedics - are required to use them, sometimes at high speeds, while weaving through traffic, sirens blaring. In April 2008, an emergency medical technician in West Nyack, New York, looked at the Global Positioning System screen in the ambulance he was driving, swerved and hit a parked flatbed truck. The crash sheared off the side

by kenwarf March 11, 2010 12:23 AM PST: I have tried many times to play the new today and even when I try to download it I get told that it does not exist. I hope it gets fixed for tomorrow even if that does make it late. . Leslie Katz is senior editor of CNET News' Crave blog, which focuses on gadgets, games, and all other digital distractions. Erica Ogg keeps up on the latest consumer electronics and PC goings-on as chief correspondent for CNET News' Crave blog.