Are New Car Technologies Making People Bad Drivers?

"Michael Maguire" (michaelmag25) 03/29/2015 at 13:06 • Filed to: Random Question, technology, bad drivers

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So, I was just thinking about how cars have changed over the years and I realized that the entire driving dynamic is insanely different than 20 years ago. We have ABS, traction control, stability control, high tech tires...

I could go on and on, but back in the day we had none of this! People had to learn to truly drive! They knew what it feels like to have the back end slide out or have horrible stopping distance in the rain. People had to know what there car would do in every situation and I think it produced better drivers. Now, I also think the driving test is a joke and doesn't give you much insight into what real world driving is going to be, but that is a discussion for another day.

So, what say you guys?

JR1 > Michael Maguire 03/29/2015 at 13:11

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I am sure that the safety nannies make driving old cars more dangerous for people who have never driven them. However I would not say that modern cars with shitty drivers are more dangerous. The drives might have less skills but the car compensates meaning that they are likely just as safe as an old experienced driver in an old car.

Michael Maguire > JR1 03/29/2015 at 13:13

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Hmm. That's a very interesting point. I guess you could say drivers got worse, but technology got better to compensate so the world is still a safe place.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Michael Maguire 03/29/2015 at 13:20

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I don't think that the vast majority of drivers will ever use TC or ESC, and will likely only use ABS in the rain. I think that modern cars are safer in an accident, but I don't know if they've necessarily made drivers worse. I find older cars easier to drive since newer cars have blind spots the size of the moon.

jariten1781 > Michael Maguire 03/29/2015 at 13:26

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People, in general, didn't drive better without assists; they just wrecked more.

bobkustofawitshz > Michael Maguire 03/29/2015 at 13:32

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I'll take the one on the left, thx.

Jeff-God-of-Biscuits > Michael Maguire 03/29/2015 at 13:35

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Except for the fact that the nannies that make driving "easier" also remove the need to focus on what you are doing and what's going on around you. So the act of driving now requires less skill and attention, which leads to multitasking drivers who place the "simple" act of driving towards the bottom of the attention pile.

Michael Maguire > Jeff-God-of-Biscuits 03/29/2015 at 13:41

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Couldn't have said it better myself

marshknute > Michael Maguire 03/29/2015 at 13:44

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Crash regulations are making people bad drivers. The huge blind spots and limited outward visibility in comparison to old cars makes it harder for people to gauge exterior dimensions. Modern technology is helping to mitigate that inherent handicap.

The only exception is when manufacturers replace dials/knobs/buttons with touch screens and haptic feedback "buttons" for controls that demand analog controls. The radio and HVAC should never have digital controls (except for radio presets and the "auto" setting for the HVAC).

jkm7680 > Michael Maguire 03/29/2015 at 17:05

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Cell phones are making people bad drivers. Everything else is juuusst all fine and dandy.

Xazzaphonic (previously known as Vicarious-Chair) > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 03/29/2015 at 20:41

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What do you mean, "...that the vast majority of drivers will ever use TC or ESC, and will likely only use ABS in the rain?" TC, ESC/DSC/VSC, are always on. I'm sure the systems are feathering the throttle and brakes.

This brings up another point. Electronically controlled throttles make driving a very different experience. I'm sure those who spent over 10 years driving a standard throttle car then converting to an electronic controlled one will notice a big difference. It's a very dampened experience.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Xazzaphonic (previously known as Vicarious-Chair) 03/29/2015 at 20:48

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They're always monitoring the relative wheel speed, but they don't actually kick in until they notice a difference past their engagement threshold. Even then, almost all non-performance cars are going to be using their ABS systems to keep the wheel speeds in line with each other, not the throttle. Early throttle-by-wire cars were kind of annoying, but they've gotten better. The first car I owned with an electronic throttle was my Mazda3, and I noticed a huge lag between throttle inputs and engine response. On my BRZ, it's fine. It's not that I just got used to it. I go back and forth daily between my BRZ and my old AW11 MR2 without issue.

f86sabre > Michael Maguire 03/29/2015 at 22:20

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People sucked at driving back in the day too. Add on the fact that drunk driving wasn't considered a bad thing back then and it gets bleaker. Tires were structurally deficient as well. When was the last time anyone here "blew" a tire, like had it totally come apart randomly while driving as opposed to just deflating?

My first car was a 1968 Mustang. Ever driven a car with old school, drum brakes on all four corners? Stopping is a suggestion.

We are now belted into our cars, in form fitting seats, with ergonomically designed driver interfaces that give us levels of control and precision that were unthinkable back in the day. I don't think we are in a bad spot.

wafflesnfalafel > jkm7680 03/29/2015 at 22:41

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that and goofy Idrive type control systems where you have to take your eyes away from driving...

DipodomysDeserti > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 03/29/2015 at 23:55

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Im guessing you haven't driven anything truly old. Modern steering and brakes make a huge difference as far as ease of driving is concerned. Granted my old car is infamous for being sketchy to drive, but my Corvair is much more difficult to drive on a daily basis than anything new. Avoiding other drivers and emergency braking situation is where you really notice the difference.