In our previous article,we talked about the “good driver” or “bad driver” scenario. Let’s take this a step further and look at cars and the available technologies that can potentially keep us safer. Or do they? Do these technologies make a good or bad driver? It depends!
It’s no secret that we still haven’t figured out a way to exceed the law of physics. Yet every day drivers somehow think that their “talent” behind-the-wheel (BTW) combined with the safety features found on cars today will magically allow them to do just that.
Automobile manufacturers have been singing the praises of their safety features, otherwise known as advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). These systems are designed to manage aspects of the driving experience and intervene if the human BTW makes a mistake.
Some of these features include blind spot and forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control and pedestrian detection. These are without a doubt a step in the right direction to help curb traffic fatalities. However, even with these great safety features most traffic fatalities are still a result of human error. In addition, ADAS still is very much a work in progress. So for now, it’s still about the old fashioned way of doing things as we drive:
- Driving within our limits
- Removing any distractions that take us away from the driving task
- Paying attention to the rules of the road
- Driving within the limits of our automobile
- Never relying 100% on ADAS
And what about the fully autonomous car? Most experts agree that we’re years away from seeing them in great numbers on our roadways. In fact, 2035 at the earliest. Until then, let’s all continue to strive for the “good driver” category by practicing safety and courtesy as we’re driving from point A to point B.
Enjoy the drive!
