High-tech Cars Replacing Driver Skill?

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday January 11, 2006 @08:33PM from the assisted-parking dept.

Nick writes "What happens when you take a bunch of average drivers, put them in a car with no high-tech systems like anti-lock brakes and traction control, and ask them to drive on a safety test track? 360-degree spins, of course. And not only do today's drivers need ABS and traction control to keep their cars under control, it also turns out most drivers can't even name the high tech safety systems that are continually saving their butts. And to make matters worse, carmakers plan to install automatic radar-based blind-spot checkers so motorists can avoid looking over their shoulders while changing lanes. Even geeks find some of these technologies scary, including Wired's Bruce Gain, who drove Mercedes' S-Class with automatic braking."

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Re:Speaking of S-Class auto brakes... by geminidomino · 2006-01-11 21:18 · Score: 5, Informative

I think the driver lost his job because he was the "journalist" taking part in rigging the test.

The test was a fraud in the first place.

Linky
Re:I hate ABS...sometimes by 49152 · 2006-01-11 21:21 · Score: 5, Informative

>if the road is dry, the stop time will be much shorter if the wheels lock and you skid.

This is simply not true. Dynamic friction (skidding) is lower than static friction.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/brake4.htm