Can Cars Ever Be Too Safe?
from the i-want-a-giant-spike-on-my-steering-wheel dept
Whenever technology begins to take over, there are those who worry about what's "lost" in relying too heavily on technology. Remember people who said that kids wouldn't understand math if they used calculators? Or those who are now afraid that kids won't be able to write because they spend so much time typing? Or those fears that we're all so used to Google being available all the time, that we're letting our memory go? Along those lines, Wired is asking if all of the next generation of safety features in cars means that we're becoming too complacent as drivers. After all, with new technologies that effectively take over for a driver if it looks like a crash is about to happen, or at the very least try to alert the driver of that possibility, perhaps people will start relying on the technology too much. When it comes to driving, we've certainly seen a few too many examples of drivers trusting their GPS devices over their own eyes. So, it's not out of the realm of possibility (especially with technology being as unreliable as it often is) that people will become so reliant on these technologies that they'll become somewhat more careless, but that hardly seems like a good reason to stop this type of technology from moving forward. After all, you could take it to the extreme, and note that if everyone drove around with giant spikes on their steering wheels instead of airbags, everyone would drive a lot more carefully -- but no one wants that to happen.![Hide This Hide this](https://ii.techdirt.com/s/t/i/topclose.png)
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Reader Comments
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How about we just ban cars!
O.K. you're not laughing. Shit.
*Runs away*
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Modest Proposal
Just putting that out there...
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Re: Modest Proposal
I bet we see some get to be very good drivers or die trying
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safer is safer
Saving lives > stupid drivers, period.
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It's patented
is patented by the same fellow who
invented the inflatable mace air
bag and the chainsaw seatbelt.
I'd feel much safer, when I see some
jamoke yakking on their cellphone as
they barrel up behind me at 30mph over
the speed limit, if such innovations were
already on the market.
Another example of patents stiffling
technological advancement.
No, cars can never be too safe as
long as there are thoughtless, careless,
inconsiderate drivers we have to deal with.
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Cars Have Become Entertainment Centers
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I know I'd be more careful crossing the road. And it'd also be hilarious.
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Re:
---by Anonymous Coward on Nov 8th, 2007 @ 3:46pm
I always figured that if it were law that, if a driver sees a pedestrian on the road outside of a designated crossing area, they have to increase speed and aim for them. Anyone caught not doing it would be arrested.
I know I'd be more careful crossing the road. And it'd also be hilarious.
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Bigger Problems
If kids can't do basic maths because they always use calculators, then there is a problem if calculators suddenly disappear.
If kids can't remember facts because they always know they can just web search for it, then there is a problem if web search suddenly disappears.
If car drivers don't drive carefully because they relie on their car safety systems, then there is a problem if these systems suddenly disappear.
But if any of these things suddenly disappear then we have bigger problems to worry about.
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survival of fittest, anyone?
really, who does that? for some reason i'm seeing mr.T in my head now saying "you speed in the rain, you bringing the pain!" i'm sorry.
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The real problem...
My first DMV test was to pull out of the DMV onto a dead street, go around the block staying to the right so I'd never have to merge, and pull straight back into the DMV. What exactly did that test?
The post above about cars becoming entertainment centers also hits it dead on too, driving a small car I find myself using the horn and swerving to avoid people who are more often than not distracted, or just plain don't check their mirrors/sides before merging or turning. Here in Southern California the day just isn't complete unless one person nearly crashes into me.
Another huge problem I see often is people trying to drive SUVs as if they are small cars, doing 85MPH on side streets, cutting in front of traffic even though they can't accelerate to keep up. I'd say at least 90% of the "dangerous" drivers I see on the road are in SUVs. Personally I believe SUVs and larger trucks should require a different class license and different testing much like a motorcycle does.
The final problem I believe adds to dangerous driving is automatic transmissions, they seem to enable you to be further distracted while driving as you no longer have to operate the clutch and shift gears. Even I have to admit when I'm driving an automatic I feel far more "detached" from the road and the car, I don't know how to describe it but I'm sure anyone else here who has a standard transmission will know what I'm talking about.
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Re: The real problem...
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Yes, technology is going to make it worse.
But technology will be our saviour too. When I can conceal carry a freakin' disintegrator ray I don't think you'll be doing 150 degree turns through pedestrians again will you Mr Bus Driver?
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Already happened.
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We do that already
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Already happened
BUT that's based on the standard UK car of 10 years ago. SUV's have now taken off here thanks to immoral manufacturers and actually if you're a child hit by an SUV at 30 mph, there's now an 80% chance you'll die, because it's so big and heavy and probably has a big bull bar on the front.
SUV's are bigger and heavier and safer for the driver. But safety for one party equals less safe for the other - the pedestrian who is not lining the car company's pockets.
WAKE UP PEOPLE. The pedestrian is our children, our parents, ourselves, more and more as oil prices go up.
SICK.
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Already happened
BUT that's based on the standard UK car of 10 years ago. SUV's have now taken off here thanks to immoral manufacturers and actually if you're a child hit by an SUV at 30 mph, there's now an 80% chance you'll die, because it's so big and heavy and probably has a big bull bar on the front.
SUV's are bigger and heavier and safer for the driver. But safety for one party equals less safe for the other - the pedestrian who is not lining the car company's pockets.
WAKE UP PEOPLE. The pedestrian is our children, our parents, ourselves, more and more as oil prices go up.
SICK.
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Re: Already happened
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Re: Re: Already happened
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Re: Re: Re: Already happened
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So I think it is a double-edged sword.
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