Has automation in the automotive industry made drivers lazy?

It's been a beautiful summer here in the UK this year. We've been treated to day after day of blue sky and sunshine making the commute to work an absolute dream. 

However, I woke up the other morning to find the world wrapped in a thick blanket of mist and fog for the first time in what feels like a decade (but in reality is probably only a few months Blush)

So, on the commute to work that morning, I popped on my fog lights (both back and front) while driving along the country road that winds from my village and out to the main highway to help my fellow travellers see me in this fog soup, only to come up rapidly behind a small silver grey Peugeot with no lights on! Then on the other side of the carriageway, more cars coming head on out of the mist with again with no lights on... Fearful

I would safely estimate that 3 out of every 10 cars I encountered on my journey into work that morning through the thick fog and mist, was not sporting any lights on their car at all let alone the very useful fog lights that are purpose made for driving in situations of reduced visibility.

I'm aware that many modern cars have automatic lights that come on when light levels are low BUT I'm finding that many drivers are not taking matters into their own hands when it comes to deciding when their car lights should actually be illuminated. Again the other day the sky went black and there was a sudden downpour on the way home from work and again, many drivers did not have their lights on probably opting for the decision to be taken by the onboard light sensors instead. 

A friend of mine also has automatic main beam on her car so she doesn't have to decide when to use it and when not to. The car makes that decision for her. 

It got me thinking... have we gone too far with automation in vehicles? Should we be encouraging drivers to make more decisions for themselves when behind the wheel of their car? Have we in fact through automation, removed too much responsibility from the driver themselves? 

Parents
  • Slightly off topic but I am often pulling up next to cars/vans at red lights to tell the driver that one or all of their rear/brake lights aren't working. Had mostly thankful reactions, but it will probably get into trouble at some point.

    Did it to a black cab driver once with one brake light out. After he thanked me I asked why no other cabbie had mentioned it, "scum of the earth the lot of em" he said Grin

  • In the response I wrote above, my intention is that as the development of technology has come up on the issue of transmission, so will the autonomous technology. Lights that turn on by themselves is not new. Wipers also work on their own, and when the rain gets stronger, the wipers also work faster and vice versa.

  • Oddly as a UK driver, I only ever drive an automatic gearbox when in the USA, who seem to have little else. I do not enjoy the lack of direct control - the ability to double declutch, and engine braking  (change down and use higher revs for control on corners etc.) is part of the way I was taught to driven and it feels very wrong to surrender that.

    Mike

  • I much prefer an automatic box, especially when driving in traffic. Selecting neutral at the lights, etc. is boring. An auto box is also better for making rapid progress. My present modern car has a 9 speed auto box, which claims to be able to change in 100 ms and there is no need to lift off the loud pedal at any stage when accelerating.

    I am not at all sure that engine braking is a good idea due to increased wear, not least on the clutch - replacing brake pads or shoes is much easier. As for corners, the appropriate gear is the one which allows you to pull away best on completion of the manoeuvre.

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  • I much prefer an automatic box, especially when driving in traffic. Selecting neutral at the lights, etc. is boring. An auto box is also better for making rapid progress. My present modern car has a 9 speed auto box, which claims to be able to change in 100 ms and there is no need to lift off the loud pedal at any stage when accelerating.

    I am not at all sure that engine braking is a good idea due to increased wear, not least on the clutch - replacing brake pads or shoes is much easier. As for corners, the appropriate gear is the one which allows you to pull away best on completion of the manoeuvre.

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