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Amazing Things Your Automobile Can't Do
dslmodem submitted this NYT story on nifty automobile technology that isn't coming to the United States. The report suggests that legal liability is a significant reason for not offering various driver-distracting options in the U.S.
As a consultant who spends upward of 6-7 hours a day in my car driving to and from different clients, I would really like to see some of these features in cars in America. Currently, I already eat, shave, brush my teeth, change clothes, make phone calls, check email, etc on the freeway while driving at 60 mph. So I really don't see why I shouldn't have the option of watching a movie or having an auto-park option in my car.
Are people distracted while driving? Absolutely. In fact, I've heard of statistics saying that 90% of drivers on the road in America right now are unfit mentally to drive, either through emotional stress or just not paying attention. The result? We have the highest level of auto accident death rate in the entire industrialized world. 44,000 die each year. Well, that's what you have to pay for the luxury and freedom you get with a car. I fully expect one day that my mangled corpse will be pulled out of my car, electric razor still in hand with my brains splattered on my windshield. Too bad for the person I hit, but I'm sorry - this is technology that I need to use right now.
Besides, much of what they are offering can already be had in a car nowadays - albeit through laptop hook ups and stuff, which are a lot harder to use than a system that's built in. If you don't believe me, try using a laptop writing a document with the laptop in the passenger's seat while driving in stop-and-go traffic.
Much easier if the car were to allow you to do this with your eyes forward on the road.
I don't want to sound like a free rights bastard, but if you don't like other drivers doing other ativities while driving...then don't drive. You can ride the bus.
This balding guy (so you know he must be right!) confirms what the real car accident problem is; the driver is distracted. Cell phone, rubbernecking, in-car-Tivo, it doesn't matter.
From the article:
Besides nervousness over lawsuits, the American auto market has also been more cautious in offering features like television or karaoke, which are widely available in other countries. Some features will probably not be available here for years, if ever.
Uhm... what? Television?! STFU and drive!
As for karaoke, my car has a stereo; you KNOW I am screaming/singing at the top of my lungs!
In the future, I would want to not be isolated from my friends in the Space Station.
Pure FUD. I converted my nav to also a TV, and I put the news on in stop-and-go traffic all the time. No huge spike in accidents in my little world. Not worth becoming one of your freaks, but but its FUD nonetheless.
Intelligent Life on Earth
"I ride a motorcycle and spend enough time watching out for idiots talking on their cell phone who wander over into my lane."
You forgot to mention while you were driving at 1.5 x the speed limit making your own lane Zipping between cars and basically driving like an ass, all because you are on that motorcycle