Driver assist tools leading to disconnected drivers?

We would be wise to use them, but wiser still never to rely on them completely!

 

These are driver aids, not autonomous features. So the driver always has the responsibility. Whether or not drivers recognize and understand that is a live issue I agree, but apart from that I think the issue is clear cut.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

I enjoy driving - give me a mountain road, good scenic route GREAT. Give me a boring commute with only the rear end of a SUV to see - that's not enjoyable driving, and that's where I feel driving aids come into their own. Some days, the most exciting part of my commute is reversing out of my driveway.

 

The story feels like click bait aimed to please the mindset of the magazines current readers. These items are currently only aids to driving, aimed at making driving safer. In the case of lane assist would PistonHeads rather it not be available and then that way if someone is distracted they end up having an accident.

At the end of the day as the person sat behind the wheel You are deemed as in control of it and you can override the assistance aids.

 

might not be any worse than phones, but definitely a problem.

 

I disagree. It's a false dichotomy.

If you don't like it, turn it off. But there's nothing about it which requires that you abdicate your responsibilities as a driver. It's just an added layer of safety. Sometimes the car's sensors see things before I do, or they can respond faster than I do. I'm happy to have that extra measure of safety, and knowing that it's now available, I purposefully got a car which had it. Preventing an accident helps keep all of us safer, and my car undamaged.

 

you're advising the o/p, or others who agree. but the issue is people who allow the tech to lull them into a false sense of security. we can't shut it off for them, and they are a danger to society.

 

Looking at the overall picture, prior to safety driver assist technology I saw far too many people who would be putting on makeup, reading, digging in the glove box, talking on the phone or otherwise ignoring the road and traffic around them.
This is nothing new.

Now, these safety systems, if use incorrectly, could possibly lead to an accident, that is true.
But that isn't the question, and should not be your concern.

The concern should be, does this technology prevent more accidents than it creates?

This is anecdotal, but I know this technology prevented me from getting in an accident, and has not caused any for me.

 

the question is: 'are driver assist tools leading to disconnected drivers?' the answer is undeniably yes.

 

No question.
But it is misleading to leave it at that.

Make-up, phones, newspapers, cigarettes, maps, lost items and kids are also leading to "disconnected" drivers.

I guess my question would be, so what?

 

agreed, and we're never going back. it will be more and more dangerous out there until we have completely autonomous cars.

 

People do rely on semi-autonmouse features too much. It's like 4 wheel drive. The first bad driving day all I see are 4 wheel drive vehicles in the ditch. Look at me I can drive fast and I'm invincible. My car has AWD and it stops for me. Oh, wait, I've got a text.

 

exactly. same thing here, 4wd, awd, and for some reason, beemers, scattered all over the highway.

 

I'm thinking the rise of semi-autonomous driving features parallels the increase in electronic controls, touch screens and similar crap. They deserve each other.

 

young whippersnappers!

 

From second-half 2014 to first-half 2016, traffic fatalities in the U.S. are up 18%. This increase is far more than the increase in actual miles driven. And also faster than the growing market availability of driver assist features.

It seems that drivers are getting increasingly disconnected from their driving responsibilities, even without driver assist tools.

Put down that smartphone, and drive.

 

agreed! (see post #6)