Hi-tech cars: Driver distraction warning in US

[Frank Lee]

It's about time for the subject to get some attention. Nazis like MADD and NHTSA and the various Highway Patrols and whatnot have been pushing their ludicrous "zero deaths" B.S. on everyone, resulting in big fat heavy gizmo-laden vehicles- that people perceive as so safe that they now expect the vehicles to be able to drive themselves- when the main problem all along was distracted drivers. Get the toys outta there and maybe 500lbs of safety crap can go away too.

[gone-ot]

...new and improved high-tech methods to get your name on the annual Darwin Awards Candidates' listing!

[larrybuck]

I still can't believe all the stuff that came on my 1st Silverwing 1983 model.
AM/FM/Cassette/ CB Incredible! I instantly pulled all of that out due to the weight, plus: who needs that distraction factor?

I want to concentrate on the fun of riding, not cheap little toys!!!

[user removed]

The closest I have come to being killed on a highway in the last 5 years is 3 almost head on collisions on 2 lane roads where the other driver was on some kind of mobile device and swerved over onto my lane, more than 50% of my lane, without any real escape route due to the ditch a foot off my side of the road.

The more techy stuff they do to cars to allow less attention by drivers, the less attention the same drivers will pay to what is going on around them. While you may be able to teach a car to drive itself, I doubt you will teach a car to anticipate potential events and preempt them.

regards
Mech

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by ProDarwin

I'm all for this stuff. Bluetooth is a must have for me in my car. Don't have to touch the phone. All phone calls are made by voice dialing...

Good choice of name, then. Are you officially competing for a Darwin Award?

Still haven't figured out why (except for the occasionial 911 call) anyone thinks they need to make a phone call while driving.

[SoobieOut]

I don't see how these so called "smart" devices that will disable electronics in the car can discern if the driver or passengers are texting or using a smart phone.

Three cheers for the nanny state that will make us all safer.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by MorphDaCivic

Three cheers for the nanny state that will make us all safer.

If you object to the nanny state doing it, let me offer a more libertarian solution: You drive down the road yakking on your electronic device, and appear to be on a collision course with me. My automated anti-distracted-driver weapons lock on target...

[ProDarwin]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

Good choice of name, then. Are you officially competing for a Darwin Award?

Still haven't figured out why (except for the occasionial 911 call) anyone thinks they need to make a phone call while driving.

Its no different than talking to a passenger (depending on the study you reference)... except I can shut them up with the tap of a button

[cfg83]

ProDarwin -

Originally Posted by ProDarwin

Its no different than talking to a passenger (depending on the study you reference)... except I can shut them up with the tap of a button

I would say yes and no to that because the passenger is getting at least *some* feedback from the environment such that they can shut up on their own. But yes, some passengers are worse than others.

CarloSW2

[ProDarwin]

Originally Posted by cfg83

ProDarwin -



I would say yes and no to that because the passenger is getting at least *some* feedback from the environment such that they can shut up on their own. But yes, some passengers are worse than others.

CarloSW2

Yes, which is why I said it depends on the study. There have been some that show a blindfolded passenger (no visual cues to shut up) is no worse than a normal one. Really though, I don't care. Talking, via bluetooth, during my commute is the least of my safety related worries.

Much of this forum has astoundingly hypocritical views regarding safety...

No driver distractions! But I'm installing a scan gauge and other instrumentation
Big vehicles are evil and handle poorly! But I'm inflating my not-at-all-sticky LRR tires to 50psi to further reduce traction.


Etc.