Roundel X5 article by Michael Bird - it’s a rant

Ohmess said:
John - I am by no means claiming I am Emerson Fittipaldi. However, I am keenly aware that driving is by far the most dangerous thing I do on a regular basis, and I have for decades worked at my driving skills.

My major concern is simply that I don't want to operate a motor vehicle that may override my inputs. Either I am the driver, or I am not. I don't want to be somewhere in-between.

But my view is not going to prevail. These systems are coming, and I am going to have to live with them.
Click to expand...
You and I are alike, in that I take driving as very serious business. But we are in the minority. With few exceptions cars are designed for the masses. My beef with the roundel article was both the author’s self described driving style and lack of acknowledgement that the avg BMW buyer is no better on the road than the avg buyer…
 
Lots of good input, and essentially all is from skilled drivers. Want to make a guess on the percentage of drivers on most of our roads who are not only skilled, but who are focusing 90+ percent of the cognitive attention on the 'art of driving'???? Unfortunately, from my experience and my opinion, it is maybe <5% of those on the streets and highways (and it is not increasing over time as many of us who do/did drive that way are aging, and the younger generations are focused on their toys - which ain't cars which were probably OUR toys).

Thus, the approach initiated by Ralph Nader (you can't take care of yourself behind the wheel of a car, so the manufacturer must take care of you) is now full blown. I detest a lot of the built in functions of the rental cars I drive when on vacation, and the newest vehicle we own is now 8 years old. My favorites to drive are those that are 12-25 years old. The last new car I bought was in 1971. Certainly don't plan to ever buy another.

One Old Dinosaur
 
Hey Old Dinosaur, you are talking to a shrinking herd. I have said for decades when anyone was/is listening(usually no one except my long suffering wife and adult children), "95% of the drivers out there should have their licenses lifted permanently. The other 5% are marginal(I include myself).

When I drove home from the track, where I felt the safest anywhere, the incompetency, the stupidity, the, I am sputtering for the words, of the drivers around me was scary big. It would take an hour or so to readjust to the mayhem and madness that passed for driving.

I live next to New Jersey and am cursed with one of the largest remaining traffic circles in the country. And they just did a year long redesign that is unbelievably worse than the original. When I am forced with a Glock at my temple to navigate/negotiate it, I say my atheist's prayer, "Yea, though I drive through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no other driver." Then I close my eyes and let all the goodies take over.

Footnote: As seen on a Marine's helmet during the battle of Khe sanh as related by Michael Herr in his brilliant memoir, "Dispatches" "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no man. For I am the meanest mother fucker in the Valley." One of the best lines and the best books to come out of that national tragedy.
 
CSteve said:
When I drove home from the track, where I felt the safest anywhere, the incompetency, the stupidity, the, I am sputtering for the words, of the drivers around me was scary big.
Click to expand...
Brother … I just had your well described experience only 5 days ago. I have to believe these modern driving aids would have prevented a few of the instances when people pull in 3 for in front of my bumper (you’d think they would AVOID a dinky X5 hauling what is clearly a too big to be safe trailer).
 
Ohmess said:
Its more than that. These systems are going to kill a lot of people while we work out the bugs. I'd rather not be one of the lab rats.
Click to expand...
My experience with our 2014 Ford Flex we’ve owned since new (that now has 150K miles on it) is that I NEVER get used to the flashing lights and loud beeping. It happens so infrequently (once or twice a year?) that I’m always surprised. The worst part is my wife making fun of my reaction, which is identical to a gotcha moment in a horror movie. That said, I believe it could potentially prevent an accident and in particular injury, so I’m better off with it. My 2 cents but have I missed something? How can this annoying warning lead to deaths?
 
HonaloochieBoogie said:
My experience with our 2014 Ford Flex we’ve owned since new (that now has 150K miles on it) is that I NEVER get used to the flashing lights and loud beeping. It happens so infrequently (once or twice a year?) that I’m always surprised. The worst part is my wife making fun of my reaction, which is identical to a gotcha moment in a horror movie. That said, I believe it could potentially prevent an accident and in particular injury, so I’m better off with it. My 2 cents but have I missed something? How can this annoying warning lead to deaths?
Click to expand...
The warning systems will only surprise you, but the newer avoidance systems will brake if you don't. In my I-95 NJ driver scenario posted above, where a driver moving much faster cuts in front of you, the collision avoidance system might bring you to a complete stop in the middle on I-95 with everyone else doing 70 while NJ guy speeds off into the distance.

The lane deviation systems will steer you back into your lane.

These systems are going to do more and more, all while telling us we are responsible to maintain control of the vehicle.

There is enough to do in a panic situation thinking about how your vehicle usually reacts, available tarmac, what your steering and braking options may be, what others around you are likely to do, and so on.

I don't need my vehicle throwing me curve balls.

But the Ralph Nader nannies and the insurance industry make big money off of controling motor vehicle design, and there is no counterbalance.

The days when you could pick between more active systems of a BMW, or more passive systems of a Volvo/Mercedes Benz, or a car made by GM where mass was its only safety system or a little Honda tin can are long gone.
 
I’m only familiar with our Ford system. It goes into ape sh*t alarm mode and begins to slow the car, but when I apply gas it returns control to me. That makes sense to me. If the more “updated” programs don’t allow drivers to take back control, I agree that’s potentially a serious problem. I’d love to have someone talk me off this ledge. Anyone?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top