Automatic braking - worth it?

[Indus]

I saw recently Toyota is making Automatic Braking standard for 2017 models.

What do you guys think of this feature? Is it worthwhile?

 

[jlee]

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/esv/esv20/07-0450-o.pdf

That's a pretty good read.

 

[Pantoot]

I haven't been unfortunate enough to experience the emergency auto braking, but I will say the collision warning has twice now scared the shit out of me in my bmw when driving west with the sun low in the sky.

It must either catch a reflection or otherwise blind the sensor, and the result is the loud alarm along with the cruise control disengaging. When you aren't expecting it you certainly get a good spike of adrenaline.

 

[rancherlee]

For someone like me, who LOVES the joy of driving, this is BAD. I hate the large portion of the populous that DON'T take driving seriously and are the root cause of all the "Nanny Controls".

 

[jlee]

For someone like me, who LOVES the joy of driving, this is BAD. I hate the large portion of the populous that DON'T take driving seriously and are the root cause of all the "Nanny Controls".

How will this interfere with you in any way?

 

[pauldun170]

How will this interfere with you in any way?

I think the fear is that the increasing presence of nannies in vehicles is leading to a general apathy towards defensive driving skills. Perhaps driving skills in general.
By concluding the driver is incapable of managing a vehicle, the incentive to create "driver"s cars" takes a back seat to generic stat chasing typical of automotive appliances.

The counter argument that's it leads to "safer faster" butts heads with a couple of different counter arguments centering around the emotional appeal to driving experience stuff.

Basically nannies allow you to shoot your load with a super model in 20 seconds flat on government regulated and monitored beds. Some folks prefer a little foreplay...

I'm into bikes so I'm more a casual observer these days.
when it gets to the point where nannies and regulations results in everyone driving speed limited, no aggressive movements allowed safety boxes I'll be riding by on my death trap.

 

[Ferzerp]

My Tesla has it, as well as collision warning. I keep collision warning on "medium" and leave the auto-braking enabled. They're two separate systems. I trip collision warning every now and then. It trips collision warning when it is driving itself every once in a while. That particular implementation of auto braking has the goal of speed reduction of 25 mph on a collision. It isn't marketed as any avoidance or anything like that, as well as being a user configurable setting.

 

[A5]

Sure is a good thing there isn't already a 3-page thread about this exact topic on the front page.

 

[jlee]

I think the fear is that the increasing presence of nannies in vehicles is leading to a general apathy towards defensive driving skills. Perhaps driving skills in general.
By concluding the driver is incapable of managing a vehicle, the incentive to create "driver"s cars" takes a back seat to generic stat chasing typical of automotive appliances.

The counter argument that's it leads to "safer faster" butts heads with a couple of different counter arguments centering around the emotional appeal to driving experience stuff.

Basically nannies allow you to shoot your load with a super model in 20 seconds flat on government regulated and monitored beds. Some folks prefer a little foreplay...

I'm into bikes so I'm more a casual observer these days.
when it gets to the point where nannies and regulations results in everyone driving speed limited, no aggressive movements allowed safety boxes I'll be riding by on my death trap.

Apathy towards driving skill has been a problem in the US since...well, ever. The advent of electronic safety measures isn't changing that at all, IMO.

 

[rancherlee]

How will this interfere with you in any way?

Personally, not sure, I haven't driven a vehicle with automatic braking yet so I may have jumped the gun on it.
What I have experience with.

-Stability Control, even in the OFF setting it will still kick in somewhat (mandatory that it can't be FULLY disabled) Sucks for trying to have a little fun in the Winter, kicks in at the worst possible times, no matter what brand vehicle.
-Mandatory Tire pressure monitors, costs me extra money due to me switching between summer and winter wheels and I check my tire pressures often anyhow.
-And these Auto Braking systems will, I'm sure, become mandatory safety items in the near future.

All of these "safety" systems are becoming mandatory from all the negligent drivers on the road that find anything BUT driving more interesting.

 

[jlee]

Personally, not sure, I haven't driven a vehicle with automatic braking yet so I may have jumped the gun on it.
What I have experience with.

-Stability Control, even in the OFF setting it will still kick in somewhat (mandatory that it can't be FULLY disabled) Sucks for trying to have a little fun in the Winter, kicks in at the worst possible times, no matter what brand vehicle.
-Mandatory Tire pressure monitors, costs me extra money due to me switching between summer and winter wheels and I check my tire pressures often anyhow.
-And these Auto Braking systems will, I'm sure, become mandatory safety items in the near future.

All of these "safety" systems are becoming mandatory from all the negligent drivers on the road that find anything BUT driving more interesting.

Source?

 

[master_shake_]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yWNpf9U60s

with assholes like this on the road?

FUCK YES.

 

[KentState]

Between this and lane holding technology, it's becoming much safer to drive drunk. Time to raise the legal limit.

 

[jlee]

Between this and lane holding technology, it's becoming much safer to drive drunk. Time to raise the legal limit.

Not sure if srs.

 

[Midwayman]

It's something I'm much happier about being on other people's cars than my car.

 

[pauldun170]

Between this and lane holding technology, it's becoming much safer to drive drunk. Time to raise the legal limit.

"Escuse me sir,
The reason why I pulled you over is because I saw that you were in the back seat with a whiskey bottle to your mouth while shaving in the backseat of your car. I initiated the auto pullover after your vehicle reported back to my tablet here that you were not wearing your seatbelt. A citation has been automatically charged to your credit card. You may challenge this charge at the following website. You may also install the app to your phone and pay through there. If you would like to schedule a report date then please supply a convenient time so that we can avoid scheduling the court date at that time.

Be warned that once you cross into the next county, road sensors will auto initiate your hazard lights once it detects that you are drunk in your back seat and car is on auto drive"

 

[Jumpem]

I wouldn't buy a new vehicle without it these days. I am getting something with EyeSight.

 

[JeffMD]

Haha pauld, probably not far from the truth.

I am eyeing the new honda civic because it has the driver assist features in an affordable package. Only thing holding me back really is its a whole new design and issues are likely to crop up. guess 2017 will be my year for a new car.

You can argue all you want, but you can't deny computers react faster then humans. Glad to see nay sayers are not stressing for manual release airbags. ;p

 

[thomsbrain]

I would definitely want to know how it handles a 30 MPH approach to a hairpin corner with a rock wall at a 90 degree angle to the front of the car. I do that literally hundreds of times every day, so it would either need to handle that without tripping, or have a full-off switch. But unless it's smart enough to notice that the road will actually turn with the wall, I suspect the system would assume I'm about to have a massive accident at every corner entry.

 

[KentState]

I would definitely want to know how it handles a 30 MPH approach to a hairpin corner with a rock wall at a 90 degree angle to the front of the car. I do that literally hundreds of times every day, so it would either need to handle that without tripping, or have a full-off switch. But unless it's smart enough to notice that the road will actually turn with the wall, I suspect the system would assume I'm about to have a massive accident at every corner entry.

While the only ones I've been exposed to are the alerting kind, they have on occasion gone off incorrectly. Until they have cars actually talking to each other, they have to make educated guesses based of sonar and LiDAR. I know the visual difference between a car and a rock, and hopefully the software engineers can come close in their logic.

 

[freeskier93]

While the only ones I've been exposed to are the alerting kind, they have on occasion gone off incorrectly. Until they have cars actually talking to each other, they have to make educated guesses based of sonar and LiDAR. I know the visual difference between a car and a rock, and hopefully the software engineers can come close in their logic.

It doesn't need to differentiate between a rock or a car, if it's in front of you and you are going to fast your still going to want it to kick it. You could have the same corner scenario and a car coming around the opposite way. It seems likely these systems are tuned such that if it kicks in you weren't going to make the corner and hit the thing in at the corner apex, whether it be a car or rock wall.

 

[KentState]

It doesn't need to differentiate between a rock or a car, if it's in front of you and you are going to fast your still going to want it to kick it. You could have the same corner scenario and a car coming around the opposite way. It seems likely these systems are tuned such that if it kicks in you weren't going to make the corner and hit the thing in at the corner apex, whether it be a car or rock wall.

Nothing in that talks about intent of the driver and contextually a car and a rock could mean two different things (one you wouldn't be trying to drive around, the other is just an object in the apex of the turn). Just like right now, the angel of the sun causing glare on the road trips these systems.

 

[bryanl]

Nanny state cars won't give us the freedom to pretend to be NASCAR drivers and tailgate.

 

[pauldun170]

Nanny state cars won't give us the freedom to pretend to be NASCAR drivers and tailgate.

Eventually the NTSB, Insurance industry and who know what other group will ask "If states have laws concerning speed limits, aggressive driving etc etc and we now have the technology to allow for self governing cars, what is the purpose of having high powered automobiles? If all vehicles must be driven in a manner to obey local laws, shouldn't equipment be mandated to control the speed and acceleration of vehicles so that our roads are safe for the children?"

In other words, those "optional" devices that some insurance companies allow you to install in cars for a lower rate? Why not just expand on it and make it a mandatory component, expanded to use sensors and gps to ensure that vehicles obey all local laws. That would basically end the HP war. There is simply no point to vehicles that accelerate to velocities that exceed the speed limit in a manner that violates traffic law.

No one would speed. No one could drive aggressively on public roads. No more need for high powered cars, aside from niche models designed for track use.
As ICE engines become less common, and sensor laden electric cars rule the road everyone will get used to casually riding along on eco friendly child safety boxes. Sharing stories about the days when you could go 56 in 55 and that long ago people would try to go faster than the person next them.
Won't anyone think of the children?

 

[JeffMD]

Paul, going one up on that, we may see both insurance and government work to eventually force everyone into auto drive cars, as it will statistically be safer and more efficient. They really could care less what you "enjoy". And I can't say I blame them.