Technology Features Desired By Mature Drivers

[The Critic]

This article came to me this morning:

http://www.propertycasualty360.com/2013/...;_LID=158382695


My father mentioned to me that he desires some of these features on his next car. I really thought he was kidding, but this article proves otherwise. While the features do not (should not) replace driver training, I find it fascinating that these advanced features can appeal to more than just tech junkies.

 

[Chris142]

Ill be 45 in 2 months.Imo that's just more stuff to go wrong.I like basic cars

 

[lovcom]

I think ALL cars should analyze the air inside the car, for alcohol levels. A sensor in the HVAC. If the levels are too high, the car can still be driven, but signal is sent to law enforcement as a POSSIBLE problem driver.

I think ALL cars should do the same thing for texting that is going on inside a car.

Yes this could overwhelm law enforcement, but at least the situation is logged onto a database for future analysis for the messages that cannot be looked into.

Since driving is not a right, but a privelage, I don't see this as intrusive.

Lastly, I think all cars should have realtime and forced always on cameras onboard that only law enforcement can view. So after a crash, or bank robbery, the video can be looked at and analyzed for what really happened.

 

[Kuato]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
Ill be 45 in 2 months.Imo that's just more stuff to go wrong.I like basic cars


I agree...the more complicated, the more that can go wrong; give me a straightforward mechanical system any day. I also lament the loss of manual transmission in most vehicles.

Only thing that caught my attention in that list was the VSC. And there should be an option to turn it off.

 

[IndyIan]

Blind spot monitoring system = slightly larger mirrors with a convex section to increase viewing angles...

A smart phone takes care of the infotainment, and the rest of it is baby steps to a self driving car. That I am actually interested in as it would make my commute into mostly free time. But I imagine a self driving car is a decade or more away. I like driving but having the option to not to would be nice.

 

[Astro14]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
Ill be 45 in 2 months.Imo that's just more stuff to go wrong.I like basic cars


Plus, you're still young...frankly...not a mature driver...not yet...

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: lovcom
I think ALL cars should analyze the air inside the car, for alcohol levels. A sensor in the HVAC. If the levels are too high, the car can still be driven, but signal is sent to law enforcement as a POSSIBLE problem driver.

I think ALL cars should do the same thing for texting that is going on inside a car.

Yes this could overwhelm law enforcement, but at least the situation is logged onto a database for future analysis for the messages that cannot be looked into.

Since driving is not a right, but a privelage, I don't see this as intrusive.

Lastly, I think all cars should have realtime and forced always on cameras onboard that only law enforcement can view. So after a crash, or bank robbery, the video can be looked at and analyzed for what really happened.


You're that driving a car is not a right, but whose right is it to decide what happens on public roads aside from basic traffic laws? Aren't we all supporting the roads through taxes? Aren't we all supporting the so called "lawmakers". What exactly gives the "right" to a person or a group of people to start deciding what's "right" for everybody? Ever heard of democracy?

So while you are free to give up whatever you want for the false sense of security, I'd rather have my privacy and freedom and instead concentrate on more productive and proven methods like better driver's education and more stringent licensing.

 

[heynow]

Originally Posted By: lovcom
I think ALL cars should analyze the air inside the car, for alcohol levels. A sensor in the HVAC. If the levels are too high, the car can still be driven, but signal is sent to law enforcement as a POSSIBLE problem driver.

I think ALL cars should do the same thing for texting that is going on inside a car.

Yes this could overwhelm law enforcement, but at least the situation is logged onto a database for future analysis for the messages that cannot be looked into.

Since driving is not a right, but a privelage, I don't see this as intrusive.

Lastly, I think all cars should have realtime and forced always on cameras onboard that only law enforcement can view. So after a crash, or bank robbery, the video can be looked at and analyzed for what really happened.


WOW. I would be very scared if you were in charge of automotive regulations.
You might want to change your user name to "Big Brother".

 

[eljefino]

"Smart headlights" that reduce glare? Why not just make a headlight with a glass lens and reasonable reflector area?

Although I like the premise of the "Drowsy driver detector" which could tell when you're off your game. How that works or is reset between rental/ fleet car drivers is a question.

 

[Chris142]

The f250 I. My sig is the first car I have owned with power locks and windows. Those are awsome! I don't know how I survived w/o those. Lol. But its still a stickshift. I'm not interested in shelling out $2300 every 60k for a rebuilt slushbox.

 

[sasilverbullet]

Originally Posted By: KrisZ
Originally Posted By: lovcom
I think ALL cars should analyze the air inside the car, for alcohol levels. A sensor in the HVAC. If the levels are too high, the car can still be driven, but signal is sent to law enforcement as a POSSIBLE problem driver.

I think ALL cars should do the same thing for texting that is going on inside a car.

Yes this could overwhelm law enforcement, but at least the situation is logged onto a database for future analysis for the messages that cannot be looked into.

Since driving is not a right, but a privelage, I don't see this as intrusive.

Lastly, I think all cars should have realtime and forced always on cameras onboard that only law enforcement can view. So after a crash, or bank robbery, the video can be looked at and analyzed for what really happened.


You're that driving a car is not a right, but whose right is it to decide what happens on public roads aside from basic traffic laws? Aren't we all supporting the roads through taxes? Aren't we all supporting the so called "lawmakers". What exactly gives the "right" to a person or a group of people to start deciding what's "right" for everybody? Ever heard of democracy?

So while you are free to give up whatever you want for the false sense of security, I'd rather have my privacy and freedom and instead concentrate on more productive and proven methods like better driver's education and more stringent licensing.


+1

 

[01rangerxl]

Anyone who needs that much junk just to get down the road should probably have their license revoked anyway.

I don't really see how dinging chimes and screens that make pictures and noises do anything but facilitate adult ADD and cause even more distraction. People probably think that because they have these technologies, they can spend more time looking at the iPad dash than the road.

Distracted/stupid driving is getting WORSE, not better. I don't think even more disconnection from driving will make it better.

Revoke a few licenses for "wandering while playing with touchscreen device" and people might start to pay attention sometimes.

 

[blackman777]

My car started beeping at me. I was distracted trying to figure out "What's that?" and misjudged a turn, scraping paint off the bumper. (In other words I agree with the post directly above.)
Originally Posted By: Chris142
Ill be 45 in 2 months.Imo that's just more stuff to go wrong.I like basic cars

The graph shows almost 40% of mature drivers agree with you (no new technologies). Being a tech I like new technology, but I don't like expensive pricetags. If I can save $2000 by saying "no thanks" I'd rather walk-away with the money & leave the technology behind.

BTW the American Medical Association says 90% of "mature" citizens are overweight. Perhaps I should spend that $2000 saved on a gym membership. ;-) Or better yet, just eat less food!

 

[AdmdeVilleneuve]

+ 1 on just more stuff to go wrong. How many car makers will support the latest and greatest (fictional) "Tune In"; "Uplinked"; or "Command Voice" in ten years? I type this post on a 4.5 year old plain Dell laptop running Vista SP2. The hardware's days are numbered, and MS lists 2017 as end of support for Vista.

My 1998 Volvo S70 is still running fairly well mechanically. But if there is an obscure Win 98 gadget in there that goes south, not sure who would fix it. (For sure not my current mechanic.)

 

[blackman777]

Advice: Buy a Windows 7 laptop while it's still available. 7 is probably Microsoft's best OS to date, while the new Win8 OS is a pile of trash (yes worse than vista).

 

[eljefino]

^ The OS comparison is a proxy for keeping the car you presently like, the topic of this thread.

And I completely agree.

My 24 year old Pontiac Firebird has a first generation security key engine disable, which fortunately has been hacked by any competent locksmith, or anyone with an ohmmeter.

It could mark where this junk all started... though you could get a 1950's Cadillac with "Twilight Sentinel" automatic headlight dimming consisting of a photocell, vacuum tube amplifier circuit, etc.

 

[SS1970chrysler]

I only want a few things in my cars. They need to start, stop, steer, move, and have good heat while not beating me up on the roads.

 

[Tosh]

Sure wouldn't mind automatic distance keeping cruise control on any future car. But otherwise, keep it simple. In fact cars are already too complex, so I think any future car will actually be from the mid to late 2000's... (Hoping there's a used low mileage TSX wagon when I'm ready!)

 

[TiredTrucker]

Well, I got hooked into the idea that some of this new stuff is good. Silly me. I hadn't put a dent in a pickup since 1973. But, I got a 2013 Silverado with park assist sensors on the back and back up camera. Well, $2500 in damage later, the park assist sensors are now disabled, and I did leave the camera intact for the wife, but I make a mental note to myself when I back, that there is NO back up camera. Only use proven techniques in backing up and forget the technology. It sure seemed neat when sitting on a dealer lot, but really turned out to be more of a problem than a help in the real world on the farm.

Combine that stuff with Automated Fuel Management on the new GM engines (which I have also disabled), non availability of solid front axles on the 1/2 ton variety anymore, and automated transfer cases instead of manual shift versions, and this is the first pickup in my life that I can't feel good about. But then, nothing much being sold today really trips my trigger, regardless the brand. All I can do is find something that meets my needs and get what I can at the best price.

 

[andrewg]

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
Anyone who needs that much junk just to get down the road should probably have their license revoked anyway.

I don't really see how dinging chimes and screens that make pictures and noises do anything but facilitate adult ADD and cause even more distraction. People probably think that because they have these technologies, they can spend more time looking at the iPad dash than the road.

Distracted/stupid driving is getting WORSE, not better. I don't think even more disconnection from driving will make it better.

Revoke a few licenses for "wandering while playing with touchscreen device" and people might start to pay attention sometimes.

Good post....I couldn't agree more.