passive safty devices going overboard?

  • Thread starter Thread starter kikkoman
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kikkoman

kikkoman

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here's my issue.
alot of new cars are coming out with technology that assist driving. things like ABS, traction control, HICAS, YAW, ATTS, etc.
almost everything is electronically controlled or assisted. personally i think that this sort of technological advancement will inhibit our skills of driving. others might argue that these devices save lives, but i dont believe that letting a machine take over braking or throttle is wise. the only time the car is really out of control is when the computer 'takes over'.
what are your oppinions?
 
my opinion is if i had these driving assists i would like to be able to turn them off by a switch of a button (ABS can stay on i dont care)
 
My opinion is that the manufacturers are getting sued on a more regular occasion for drivers mistakes. Therefore, they have to take every precation possible to preserve the person driving.

Far be it for the person driving to learn how to control their car. Or accept it as their fault. "I Stomped on the brakes, and they locked up. If I had ABS, I wouldn't have hit that person" How about, "If you weren't driving so fast, and been paying attention to the situation, you wouldn't have hit that person"

Yes, I think that some technological advancements certianly help, but ultimately, the nut holding the steering wheel is where most of the problems lay.

AO
 
On the other side of the coin, we are seeing cars running VERY large power outputs - you just need to look at the current AMG cars and compare their power to versions from 5 years ago.
 
we need to make driving less easy and more difficult and more of a priviledge than a right in order for people to value that a car is a machine that is capable of good and bad things.

its not very hard, and as an abstract thought its easy to rationalise but it doesnt hit home enough.
countries like germany and japan have much more stringent procedures, that are also expensive, for licensing. consequently, germanys autobahns have fewer fatalities than our freeways. of course their cars have to pass TUV testing (germany) MoT (british isles!) and so on, whereas here in california, as long as my heap of **** passes smog there is no real roadworthiness test for the vehicle.

its a lot more complicated than just saying theres too many passive safety devices. a lot of those are in place because too many people take cars and driving for granted.
 
Part of the problem is with the training, which is currently scant at best.

I agree with VIPERGTSR01, in that the assistance is good, but I'd like to be able to deactivate it, so that I can opt to have the assistance or not.
 

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