Automotive

I just had a light bulb moment (well, it was inspired by the umpteenth time I know I typed something in correctly, even read it correctly, but then when I get the reply email with my original email appended, there is an appalling and obvious malapropism.

obvious ones are complementary for complimentary (auto spell check won't know to catch this, and it would require a pretty sophisticated syntax engine to get it right)

their and there

yet there is no question spelling and syntax checkers are helpful for true typographical errors.

But sometimes, it replaces a correct word with an incorrect one (or is this just my imagination? Just like when I think I would have done better without the traction control when the grip started to go?)

and what about the danger of making us lazy - type too fast, makes lots of typos, don't bother to proofread - afterall, the spell checker will catch and auto correct it.

Sound familiar?

(yeah, I realize my segues are not quite right, but forgive an over stressed hack trying to catch up and pack yet again...)

Lane keeping assist, and pre-safe brake.

enforce stricter licensing and renewals.

The majority of American drivers are basically alseep at the wheels; add to that the fairly low level of technical knowledge with car dynamics (American roads are engineered for at least double the rated speed limits; ever notice how curves on winding roads and interchanges can mostly be taken nearly or at double the recommended speed limits? but regulatory ignorance and legislating for the lowest common denominator - imho - forces a mindset of cars as rolling cocoons to be braindead in...grrrr...) and you have the ingredients for increasingly decreasing levels of engagement behind the steering wheel.

(sigh)

  

I have too many friends whose only automotive shopping criteria seems to be high (visibility), large (safety), powerful - with the verbally-expressed goal

"if I get in an accident at least I won't be the one that gets hurt, it will be the other people."

A couple ladies I've spoken to, who have very bad driving records, don't count as "accidents" any collisions unless they involve moving vehicles - so hitting parked cars, going off the road on a curve, backing into a light pole, running over a bicycle in the driveway - those incidents don't count.

And events like children rolling newish vehicles off the road on a curve 2 blocks from home on a clear day are assessed as "kids will do these things - we might as well get them a better car as a replacement so they will be safe the next time it happens ..."

Egads!

The idea of training to ensure it's very unlikely to happen in the first place totally escapes them. As does " let them buy their own replacement car"

Sigh.

Cazalea

...responsible for the 'decreasing levels of engagement'?

How many of the aforementioned 'nannies' are legislated for? ABS? And how many are promoted by the OEMs in their technology races?

[As an aside: Victoria, Australia has recently legislated for ESP on all new cars and has a history of leading road safety measure (first compulsory seatbelt laws...)]

The issue of road safety is multi-layered, complicated and rather vexed. I understand the calls for more effective training, but it remains that decent driving on public roads is largely a question of attitude and not skill.

legislation (and the fear of legislation and the fear of legal liability) is behind much of the so called "safety" improvements that are (at the risk of sounding like a Luddite) mostly simply increasing the level of disengagement from the physics of driving, leading to more complacency and assumed safety net.

TM

It is behind many of the 'improvements', but the safety/liability issues are not led by legislation. The governments of this world are generally interested in emissions, not safety standards. Those have largely been left to the various NCAP organisations and the likes of IIHS, who have standards (in passive safety) waaaay over anything in the Regs.

From another angle, while car companies are offering customers the current levels of power (Camries making more HP than Carrera 2.7RSs??!) to the average customer, these 'aids' are necessary. One, to protect the road-users and Two, which is in alignment with your point, to appear 'responsible'.

As before, one's driving engagement and complacency is what one makes of it, ESC/TC/poor steering feel,etc, etc fall to the wayside when we consider the amount of distractions open to the modern driver....mobile phones, complicated dashes, stupid instrument layouts, isolation from road/surrounding noises and....cupholders

 

 

This concept, though born from the Atomic age, seems to have finally taken hold and is now seriously considered with working prototypes.

... imagine a soft-toned machine-voice (remember K.I.T.T.?) stating: "Sir, I found you too stupid to drive. Please back from this car and use the public commuting services." I think this would really improve the safety on the street ..... unless it's me meant by this !!*##! pile of crap ...

Regards,
Marcus