"LTK" (wkoblinsky)
03/25/2015 at 11:38 • Filed to: Ford
5
12|
"LTK" (wkoblinsky)
03/25/2015 at 11:38 • Filed to: Ford | 5
| 12 |
Ford has introduced a new feature called !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . In a nutshell, you can activate it as part of your cruise control suite to allow the car to determine and follow posted speed limits. Predictably, many are crying foul. Facebook is being flooded with links breathlessly titled "Ford's New Car Will Force You To Obey The Speed Limit!" and comment sections are aflame with driving experts opining about how unsafe such a feature is. It's all worthy of a good facepalm. Let me explain:
First things first, the system is voluntary. The driver is in control of the system the entire time. It fits right into Ford's current stable of driver assist technologies including lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, eco cruise control, active park assist, and blind spot monitoring. Their navigation systems already show posted speed limits (and with pretty good accuracy here in New England.), so being able to tie that functionality into the cruise control could be helpful in situations where you'd like to avoid a speeding ticket. Examples include medium to long commutes or road tripping in unfamiliar territory where speed traps are common.
Secondly, it's perfectly safe. It's not going to prevent you from having to mash the throttle to avoid an accident or get your suddenly belabored wife to the hospital. Having used every one of Ford's driver assist systems, I can tell you they were designed to give up control at the slightest provocation. Ford's lane-keep assist will chime and even attempt to steer you back into the lane if you start to veer without using a turn signal. However, if it detects any resistance from the driver, it will temporarily deactivate and give up control to the driver. I imagine the speed limiter is going to be much like cruise control. If you want to go faster, press the accelerator and the vehicle will accelerate.
I'm not even going to touch the issue of the rationality or safety of the speed limits themselves. I think most of us !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! they could stand to be a good deal higher in many situations, but Ford's system doesn't address that. It gives those with deep pockets and the tendency to do a few over an option to avoid speeding tickets when they so wish. Some people just need to have a Snickers and settle down.
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Alfalfa Romeo
> LTK
03/25/2015 at 11:45 |
|
So it's basically cruise control, but a little smarter.
Some people try way to hard to be angry at things.
HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> LTK
03/25/2015 at 11:45 |
|
BUT ALL COMPUTER INVOLVEMENT ON ANY CAR AT ANY TIME IS A BAD THING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lol
thebigbossyboss
> LTK
03/25/2015 at 11:47 |
|
But it's my right to break the law. Oh wait no it's not. :(
Gib higher speed limits tho plox.
Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
> LTK
03/25/2015 at 11:48 |
|
Our Renault already has a less advanced version of this system and it's pretty useful. Instead of reading the limit like the Ford you manually set the limiter like cruise control, except you have to disable it to speed up unlike cruise control.
In construction zones with 50mph limits and average speed cameras it's pretty handy.
jariten1781
> LTK
03/25/2015 at 11:50 |
|
I wouldn't pay extra for it, but I also wouldn't care if it came on the car. Ideally it'll allow you to set a threshold (5% over or whatever), but if not it's easily defeatable in a number of ways if you really hate it.
Mattbob
> LTK
03/25/2015 at 11:51 |
|
Honestly I love the idea. I use the speed limit chime in my old BMW all the time to let me know when I'm going too fast. If you aren't trying to drive fast, why not let the thing help you not get tickets?
|
LTK
> Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
03/25/2015 at 11:55 |
|
I own a Ford with the Nav, and it's pretty good at reading an accurate speed limit, even in construction zones.
|
Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
> LTK
03/25/2015 at 11:57 |
|
Seems useful, in places where you have to really stick to the limit it'd be nice to know you're not guna be able to speed up a little if your mind wanders. I know if I'm concentrating on the road ahead I can lose track of my speed a little.
Brian, The Life of
> LTK
03/25/2015 at 11:57 |
|
I would love this feature particularly if it allowed me to set it at, say, 7mph above the posted limit :)
dogisbadob
> LTK
03/25/2015 at 11:59 |
|
Patrick George could've used this in Virginia!
kanadanmajava1
> LTK
03/25/2015 at 12:01 |
|
That doesn't sound very bad option to me. I always follow the speed limits anyway. I think that some VAG cars have some camera based system that displays the current speed limit but I haven't heard that would be actively using for adaptive cruise control.
I'm probably not going to buy new cars as I'll rather spend my pennies for the old ones. My daily driver is from '89 so currently the intermittent wipers and automatic choke are the most advanced things in my car.
BaconSandwich is tasty.
> Alfalfa Romeo
03/25/2015 at 12:12 |
|
I suspect it's partially a reading comprehension problem. Quick knee-jerk reaction -> don't read rest of article -> look like an idiot in the comments.