BEVs

[[XAP]Bob]

"sweetest sounding power plant and the fewest distractions."

So only distractions you like...

"beset with dangerously distracting bings, bongs"
Those are warning you that you're doing something wrong... Reminded me about my seatbelt last week - I'd checked, but I'd actually felt the strap of my shoulder bag

The reason that cars get downgraded is that testing regimes are updated every couple of years - and yes, active safety features are important.

[Biospace]

One of the sweetest sounding power plants I've enjoyed in recent times was the electric drive in a BEV. Most modern car engines drone away in a tiresome and tiring manner - as much of a sign as any, perhaps, that the age of the ICE for personal transport has seen its end.

Bings and bongs are absolutely not always a warning that the driver is doing something "wrong" - it's the car's complex set of systems deciding something is wrong, all too frequently they come to the wrong conclusion. I've been in cars which have mistaken the speed limit stickers on the back of trucks and other vehicles for the road limit, which have read the speed limit on a side road, and so on.

The constant glow of a screen, even when turned to its lowest setting, is often distracting once away from skies glowing with urban lighting. I know of more than one who has some black felt which they use to cover it with, at night. Screens are cheap compared with physical controls, but significantly less safe unless you stop every time something needs adjusting via the screen.

We're going through a period of rapid change, such things are perhaps part of the process, especially when a generation of PlayStation gamers have now replaced the previous generation who spent their free time on bicycles and other things mechanical. Whoever comes up with a car in which these 'assist' system genuinely help a driver without distraction will be welcomed.

[[XAP]Bob]

The constant glow of screens doesn't have to be badly set up... Mine automatically adjusts with ambient lighting, and I've never once felt that it's been a distraction.

Of course the same can't be said of other vehicle headlights, either following or oncoming - headlights are far too bright nowadays.

"Bings and bongs are absolutely not always a warning that the driver is doing something "wrong" - it's the car's complex set of systems deciding something is wrong, all too frequently they come to the wrong conclusion. I've been in cars which have mistaken the speed limit stickers on the back of trucks and other vehicles for the road limit, which have read the speed limit on a side road, and so on."
I've not had a vehicle read the speed limit on a truck, though occasionally it does get the limit wrong, but that's all of a lever flick away from being corrected. The bongs for going overspeed are pretty minor anyway.
The one that is most "distracting" is the forward collision warning, which is absolutely correct, but not taking into account the imminent steering adjustment I'm about to make. That could do with "ramping" on, rather than just engaging an alarm, but it's not distracting - It's quite rightly warning me that without action there will be a collision.

[PDQ Mobile]

The constant glow of screens doesn't have to be badly set up... Mine automatically adjusts with ambient lighting, and I've never once felt that it's been a distraction.

Of course the same can't be said of other vehicle headlights, either following or oncoming - headlights are far too bright nowadays.

"Bings and bongs are absolutely not always a warning that the driver is doing something "wrong" - it's the car's complex set of systems deciding something is wrong, all too frequently they come to the wrong conclusion. I've been in cars which have mistaken the speed limit stickers on the back of trucks and other vehicles for the road limit, which have read the speed limit on a side road, and so on."
I've not had a vehicle read the speed limit on a truck, though occasionally it does get the limit wrong, but that's all of a lever flick away from being corrected. The bongs for going overspeed are pretty minor anyway.
The one that is most "distracting" is the forward collision warning, which is absolutely correct, but not taking into account the imminent steering adjustment I'm about to make. That could do with "ramping" on, rather than just engaging an alarm, but it's not distracting - It's quite rightly warning me that without action there will be a collision.

It makes one wonder how a Morris Minor (and all the other older ones) driver ever survived into old age!

[Carlton green]

It makes one wonder how a Morris Minor (and all the other older ones) driver ever survived into old age!

Looking at death rate statistics and how rates have fallen over the years shifts my perspectives a bit. However I’m of the view that we’re well past the point at which ever increasing safety features add significant value.

[reohn2]

It makes one wonder how a Morris Minor (and all the other older ones) driver ever survived into old age!

Quite!
I like to drive my car,not it driving me!

[reohn2]

It makes one wonder how a Morris Minor (and all the other older ones) driver ever survived into old age!

Looking at death rate statistics and how rates have fallen over the years shifts my perspectives a bit. However I’m of the view that we’re well past the point at which ever increasing safety features add significant value.

I drive my car between 7 and 10,000miles and my motorcycles 12 to 15,000miles per year,half of that mileage is on motorways,the standard of UK driving appalls me so much at times particularly tailgating,phone use and lack of indicator use when manouvring eg;changing lanes on m/ways and right turns etc.It leads me to wonder where people's heads are at when driving and whether they rely much to much on the modern car doing the driving for t.hem

[Carlton green]

It makes one wonder how a Morris Minor (and all the other older ones) driver ever survived into old age!

Looking at death rate statistics and how rates have fallen over the years shifts my perspectives a bit. However I’m of the view that we’re well past the point at which ever increasing safety features add significant value.

I drive my car between 7 and 10,000miles and my motorcycles 12 to 15,000miles per year,half of that mileage is on motorways,the standard of UK driving appalls me so much at times particularly tailgating,phone use and lack of indicator use when manouvring eg;changing lanes on m/ways and right turns etc.It leads me to wonder where people's heads are at when driving and whether they rely much to much on the modern car doing the driving for t.hem

That’s a lot of mileage and chance to observe ‘road skills’. I’ve long thought that the biggest safety issue of any car was the nut behind the wheel, and that it should be easier to loose your license than it is.

[reohn2]

That’s a lot of mileage and chance to observe ‘road skills’. I’ve long thought that the biggest safety issue of any car was the nut behind the wheel, and that it should be easier to loose your license than it is.

Drink and or drugged driving is one explanation,but by far the worst is being "elsewhere" rather than the here and now,these people aren't driving IMHO they're allowing the car to do the driving,mind tiredness is the reason for the majority of this kind bad and dangerous driving.
Young women are responsible for the vast majority of tailgating IME,I have no explanation for it but I was recently given a lift by a 40year old woman,it was a her appalling driving standard which was an unsettling experience,her impatience,tailgating @ 6ft/1.8m from the car in front at 50mph,really hard braking and cornering,etc.
During conversation she was complaining that she only got 15k miles out of her front tyres her car is a 1.8l petrol Focus,she was surprised when I told her I had just had four new tyres fitted on my much heavier Smax after 37k miles.
Because she is my daughter I was able to tentatively explain it was her driving causing the premature tyre wear and that she was driving dangerously and not gaining anything only racing to the next set of TLs where she'll sit and wait for the lights to change.In all other respects she's a thoughtful sensitive,caring person,though she is UK champion weightlifter for her age group.

[[XAP]Bob]

That’s a lot of mileage and chance to observe ‘road skills’. I’ve long thought that the biggest safety issue of any car was the nut behind the wheel, and that it should be easier to loose your license than it is.

Drink and or drugged driving is one explanation,but by far the worst is being "elsewhere" rather than the here and now,these people aren't driving IMHO they're allowing the car to do the driving,mind tiredness is the reason for the majority of this kind bad and dangerous driving.

Nope - this "allowing the car to do the driving" accusation doesn't fit the failure we see.

Why do you think that more accidents are caused by people "letting the car drive" (which no cars do at all in the UK), rather than people tailgating, failing to stop for traffic lights, taking excess speed through corners/junctions, failing to look further than their own bonnet...

[reohn2]

That’s a lot of mileage and chance to observe ‘road skills’. I’ve long thought that the biggest safety issue of any car was the nut behind the wheel, and that it should be easier to loose your license than it is.

Drink and or drugged driving is one explanation,but by far the worst is being "elsewhere" rather than the here and now,these people aren't driving IMHO they're allowing the car to do the driving,mind tiredness is the reason for the majority of this kind bad and dangerous driving.

Nope - this "allowing the car to do the driving" accusation doesn't fit the failure we see.

Why do you think that more accidents are caused by people "letting the car drive" (which no cars do at all in the UK), rather than people tailgating, failing to stop for traffic lights, taking excess speed through corners/junctions, failing to look further than their own bonnet...

Perhaps a bad way of phrasing it by me,I wasn't meaning the car physically does the driving perhaps a better way to describe it would be that some drivers aren't fully aware of their driving,the driver his/herself is on auto pilot some of the time especially when tired.This is something you simply can't do on two wheels more so at speed as per motorcycle,it demands full concentration or your off.

[[XAP]Bob]

Driver distraction and tiredness are not new things.

[reohn2]

Driver distraction and tiredness are not new things.

Did I say they were?

[[XAP]Bob]

Driver distraction and tiredness are not new things.

Did I say they were?

wonder whether they rely much to much on the modern car doing the driving for t.hem

Nearly

[reohn2]

Driver distraction and tiredness are not new things.

Did I say they were?

wonder whether they rely much to much on the modern car doing the driving for t.hem

Nearly

Bob you'll pick an arguement with yourself if left long enough alone,so I'll leave you to it!