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.'"

Comments

Re:No kidding!

[Bert64]

Look at places such as Germany where there are roads without speed limits...

As the article points out, in a modern car you don't feel like you're going very fast, so cruising along at 70mph will send you to sleep... Cruising along at 150mph on the other hand keeps you alert.

You are right, drivers should keep greater distance between vehicles, especially at speed. If there is sufficient distance then you will be able to stop no matter how fast you were going.

Speed in itself is not so dangerous, most of the danger is caused by poor drivers and poorly maintained vehicles. I would feel much safer travelling at 150mph in a modern car with michael schumacher driving, than doing 20mph in a rustbucket driven by a drunk.