[bullit4404]

You make some good points Tim. Up here in Ontario, the fines for using your phone or texting while driving start at $200. If you are involved in a fatality while electronically distracted you can be charged with Dangerous Driving, and end up in jail. More than 50 KPH over the speed limit, charged with racing, car impounded for 7 days and licence suspended.
The overpowered car and incompetent driver is a problem that usually solves itself when the driver whacks a tree or a guardrail. In all these cases, however, it's the innocent motorist or pedestrian who remains at risk.

 

[VIC-TIM]

down here, you can only receive a citation for texting when the officer stops you for a different infraction and observes you texting. insanity.

there is not offense for talking on the phone. I wish the would ban both.

people would rather be distracted while they are driving than take the activity to be both dangerous and serious....driving and thus pay attention as they should to be responsible. a 3500 to 6000 lb weapon in their hands that they don't want to be bothered with. used to I would see them reading books, magazines or grooming. now they have a better distraction.

 

[bullit4404]

You make me laugh Tim. I commuted from the suburbs to Toronto for over 20 years. A very dangerous drive. Many days I'd be driving through a hail of chrome and busted glass. Biggest crime, following too close. Lot's of rear end collisions.
Saw people making coffee, eating, putting on make up, shaving, reading the newspaper, having sex, sexting, texting, phoning and playing a guitar, among other craziness. Maybe autonomous cars aren't such a bad idea?

 

[Matt Maran]

Maybe autonomous cars aren't such a bad idea?

For the distracted masses autonomous cars will be the greatest thing ever. Even just the autonomous braking that's now being put standard in many new cars is great news for us enthusiasts, less dummies rear ending us. The problem is once it all becomes widespread, it'll be a fight to keep the privilege of driving. Once every car is autonomously going 55 in the right lane, human driven cars will be the greatest risk on the road and if they're not outlawed completely, insurance rates will skyrocket, relegating it as a luxury for those than can afford it. Thankfully, the full autonomous tech is still at least 5 to 10 years away even in luxury cars, and the average car on the road in America is 12 years old, so we have at least 2 more decades of driving to enjoy before this is really widespread. In the meantime, I welcome the automatic emergency braking and lane keep assist systems as "training wheels" for the distracted masses.

 

[TrueBlue02058]

An Autonomous car can still crash. So even though your hands do not need to be touching the steering wheel at all times, the driver should still have their eyes on the road in case you have to take over and not buried in their phone/laptop.

I am old enough to guarantee you all that I Will Never Own one of these Death Traps.

 

[nelsonbullitt]

Corner weights on my '15 GT with 1/8 tank of gas and nobody and then somebody (not me at 230lbs) in the car...mind you, it does not have the heavier brakes, wheel/tires, and suspension/chassis components like the '19 Bullitt will.

So, Tony, I come up with 3682. That's 1/8 tank of gas, wet. That's lighter than I would have thought. Sounds like the weight of an S197 coyote. I assume your's is a stick?

My '15 is an auto so I assume maybe 100 pounds heavier? Not bad. I've got the 20 inch rims which are very heavy along with the not light Michelins. This is a very reasonable weight.

I will assume the '19 Bullitt will weigh near yours. Maybe 100 pounds heavier or so?

Still under 2 tons. That is quite reasonable for a car which likely have crank horse of over 500...

 

[tossass4370]

Somewhere along the way, perhaps it was high school drivers education class (GONE), I learned that being a Driver was the same as being the Captain of a ship or aircraft. In total control and solely responsible for the safety of all passengers and those people/property encountered. No longer...
Yesterday, I encountered a 15 passenger van on the interstate, 75+mph, inconsistent speeds and swaying within the lane. The moron in the operator's seat had his bare left foot on the dash, left arm behind his head and no shoulder belt visible. And there were passengers in the van.

 

[bullit4404]

I smell a new topic brewing?

 

[VIC-TIM]

In the meantime, I welcome the automatic emergency braking and lane keep assist systems as "training wheels" for the distracted masses.

only thing is, according at least to my local ford dealership, the lane assist can malfunction and wind up driving the car into a wall or whatever. then also, if you get a lane assisted car aligned, you have to have the lane assist reprogrammed, otherwise, the car thinks it is off course per the old setting since it doesn't know the alignment was performed. no thanks.

this, with all the new and increasing technology, as the car being able to be manipulated by a hacker somewhere as he enjoys taking you wherever he pleases.

oh, and when that happens, i.e., cars that drive us....there is more of your freedom lost and more control over your life given to someone else. govt would love that!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[bullit4404]

Up here in the north, as soon as snow, slush or salt cover the sensors, they don't work. Any minor collision damage can throw them off. Also, if you are zooming down your favourite two lane apexing the corners, the lane assist will beep or push you back into your lane. Hopefully you can shut some of this stuff off.
The hacker aspect is frightening. What if some cyber terrorist was to hack every autonomous car in LA at rush hour (command, turn left now)!!
The emergency braking sounds OK, as long as people don't rely on it to defy the laws of physics. It took me awhile to get used to Dynamic Stability Control. If I'm sliding around in the snow, I have to let the car make the correction. If I correct, then the car corrects and I correct the car.....
To add to your conspiracy fears Tim, what if you've been drinking and the car, with built in breathalizer, takes you to the police station, even though it's driving. It's going to be a legal mess for sure.
The latest I heard was that they are thinking of allowing advertising on your nav system?

 

[TrueBlue02058]

Somewhere along the way, perhaps it was high school drivers education class (GONE), I learned that being a Driver was the same as being the Captain of a ship or aircraft. In total control and solely responsible for the safety of all passengers and those people/property encountered. No longer...
Yesterday, I encountered a 15 passenger van on the interstate, 75+mph, inconsistent speeds and swaying within the lane. The moron in the operator's seat had his bare left foot on the dash, left arm behind his head and no shoulder belt visible. And there were passengers in the van.

I have never seen a driver with a foot on the Dash but routinely see a lot of passengers doing that in the summer. Obviously none of them have ever seen a video of an Airbag deploying :laugh:

 

[bullit4404]

There was a teenage girl here in Ontario, legs on the dash, who was badly injured when the airbag deployed. Broken legs, pelvis, internal injury. I mean, those bags come out of the dash at wicked speed.

 

[VIC-TIM]

yep. the net is full of articles and info the the severity of injury from placing feet on the dash. yet, I see it all over the place down here all the time. my wife does it when we travel. I have told her but............