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Auto Safety Tech May Encourage Dangerous Driving
longacre writes "Modern highway planning schemes designed to make roads safer combined with the comfort and safety technology found in the modern automobile may actually be putting us in danger, according to a compelling piece in Popular Mechanics. Citing studies and anecdotal evidence, the article points out that a driver on a narrow mountain road will probably drive as if their life depends on it; but the same driver on an eight-lane freeway with gradual curves and little traffic may be lulled into speeding while chatting on his cellphone. Quoting: 'Modern cars are quiet, powerful and capable of astonishing grip in curves, even on wet pavement. That's swell, of course, until you suddenly lose traction at 75 mph. The sense of confidence bred by all this capability makes us feel safe, which causes us to drive faster than we probably should. We don't want to make cars with poor response, but perhaps we could design cues — steering-wheel vibration devices, as in video games? — that make us feel less safe at speed and encourage more care. ... In college I drove an Austin-Healey 3000 that somehow felt faster at 45 mph than my Mazda RX-8 (or even my Toyota Highlander Hybrid) feels at 75 mph. That was a good thing.'"
That is the thing that encourages the reckless behaviour.
And make it a crime to wear pants while driving. Your ass and sex parts should be exposed to the potential danger as God intends.
And add a large spike between the legs of the driver.
Not according to my dog.
Compulsory big spike in the middle of the steering wheel.
This is why I replaced the seatbelts with deadly snakes, and the airbags with big metal spikes.
There's no -1 for "I don't get it."
I'm racking my brains, but i just keep coming back to the car thing.
perhaps we could design cues -- steering-wheel vibration devices, as in video games?
You act like this would be an innovation, but my 1990 Geo Prizm had this feature, in a compact car no less! If ever I got above 75 mph, the entire vehicle would start to shudder.
Just drive on my local highways during moderate traffic. You'll never feel safe again.
Rush hour is actually safer since nobody is moving anyways.
We could put all the cars on the same one lane road (in each direction), and they could link up to each other. This would allow less wind resistance and only one car would pull (or push) all the rest. We could call this a "train"
They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
"If you want people to drive safer, take out the airbag and attach a machete pointed at their neck."
I repaired an MG for several years and became a better mechanic for it.
There, fixed it for you.
That's true, with that much wind I've never had the balls to push my bike past 165 on the interstate, the fear of death just keeps nagging at me until I slow down to 120 or so.
Motorcycles rock.
Why not do this:
Instead of points and getting rid of someone's license, start removing safety features from their car. The more likely they are to die from an accident, the less likely they are to be reckless!
The obvious answer is to buy an Austin-Healey for every man, woman, and child.
Re-instate the national 55 limit.
This message brought to you by the airline industry and Greyhound.
Just stay out of the passing lane, and we'll get along fine.
Were you trying to disagree? I think 2/3 of the passengers counts as a lot of people.
You've obviously not been exposed to a lot of blue-collar type work...it's much easier than that.
Carry a/an [insert choice here] extension cord, welding leads, or air hose in your carry on.
If something happens to the plane, just throw one end out and try coiling it back up in a neat coil...It will get caught on something, thus saving the whole plane FTW! Instant Hero!
For those of you that have dealt with these items, you know I'm right!
Can you even recount the number of times that you have had to walk/climb to the other end to manually untangle/untie it so you could coil it back up? I thought not!
My all time favorite were the oxy-acetylene torch hoses! Good Times!
Down With Slashdot BETA!!! I've been around the corner and seen the oliphant; you can only abuse me from your perspecti
An idea; I have one too:
Automated Rail Synchronized Envoirment, or ARSE for short.
Develop a 'powered rail' system that not only guides, but also powers and recharges the electric car's batteries. As you use your ARSE, it recharges your car batteries so when you get off of your ARSE, you can actually move around in those areas.[1]
While on your ARSE, your car and ARSE would be talking to each other. Your ARSE knows where it is(whether you do or not), and when you punch in your destination, your ARSE guides your car there after having selected the 'best' route, according to road conditions, traffic, construction, accidents/breakdowns, etc....
When you encounter conditions that need you to get off your ARSE, then you take over manually in your electric car. But, and I say but, if you're one of those that can't find their ARSE with both hands, GPS, and a guide, well...just stay on your ARSE. It's for the best.
Get everyone's ARSE on the electrical 'grid'.
Add in annual state (following federal guidelines and standards?) diagnostic inspections of your on-board ARSE gear.[2]
I'm sure I have overlooked some details the ARSEs here, but I think you can get a picture of my ARSE if you try hard enough.
[1] Start with requiring an ARSE be included with all new/future road construction, then upgrade existing roads.
[2] Collect mileage reading(# of miles you were on your ARSE) to be used to determine your annual cost for being on your ARSE. Maybe incorporate the fee into your tax forms, or something.
A lot of detail work goes into making a good ARSE!
Down With Slashdot BETA!!! I've been around the corner and seen the oliphant; you can only abuse me from your perspecti
"You have any data to back that up?"
Call your insurance company and ask for a quote.
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.