I wonder if collision avoidance technology, TSS P, would have significantly slowed the truck attack? After 9/11, the FAA, manufacturers, and airlines finally got serious about the cockpit-cabin bulkhead and door. So serious that there have been at least three cases of suicide by pilot/co-pilot. But the strengthened bulkhead has also all but ended airliner hijacking that had started in the 1960s. So could this safety technology applied universally also mitigate terror attacks by truck or the recurring "run away" accelerations? Bob Wilson
I have to believe this continued method of attack will bring the use of TSS P to the forefront as standard equipment.
Except the systems can be turned off, and likely aren't error proof enough to make always on. Even then, someone planning such an attack will find a way to disable it. How effect is TSS-P with the main front sensor unplugged? There is also the fact that there are going to be plenty of older cars without the systems available for some time.
When TSS-P. Activates, it can easily be overridden by using the accelerator, so I'm not sure this is a solution to the deliberate target problem.
When airlines got serious about the bulkheads and the doors (and some other things on the flight deck... ) these were intended to mitigate threats outside the front office. Several disasters that followed were 'inside jobs' actually facilitated by up-armoring the door and point away from electronic intervention, unless you want to take the human out of the loop completely. (See also: Johnny Cab.) Politicization notwithstanding, this seems to be a more viable option with transportation, both public and private, but as with all weapons.....the dedicated will always find a way forward. I'm thinking that people that live in the vast concrete deserts in America will be willing to forego a little personal freedom, and let Robbie the Robot drive the car. Traffic congestion mitigation alone could make this a win-win (swarm theory) to say nothing for the increased safety margins. However (COMMA!!)........humans aren't real 'swarmy' creatures, so expect a little push back. On the other hand, the "toad in the pot theory" may become operable instead. Cars today are already largely 'fly-by-wire' and it would be a relatively short hop (in keeping with the toad metaphor) from sauna to soup pot. Some day in a far-off future, people may exchange stories (where/if permitted) from a time long ago where their ancestors were actually allowed to guide a personal conveyance....at will.....from one place to another place....or even (gasp!!!) no particular place at all. Utopia or Dystopia? Your call.... As far as the alphabet-soup of electronic interventions? They're saving lives right now, so I think that they have a bright future. They will at least keep the very stupid from using a truck as a terror weapon......maybe.....some day.
Occam's razor says we should take the simplest explanation. I am pretty sure truck deaths by stupid operators are orders of magnitude higher than terrorist deaths. Bob Wilson