Cycling UK Forum

has anyone heard the new Audi A4 advert on the radio? It focuses on their intelligent headlights where the beam turns as the wheels turn.

The strap-line is:

"The new Audi A4: sees things before you do"

Drivers don't pay enough attention to the road already, and Audi are basically saying, don't worry if you're in an A4 'cause the car will do the looking for you!

There was an ad for a Volvo not long ago that suggested the car was so 'safe' that it could prevent you from killing someone without you even knowing. Thank goodness for road safety!!

There's nothing wrong with any car, until someone gets in them and starts the engine up

JohnW wrote:There's nothing wrong with any car, until someone gets in them and starts the engine up

I don't think thats true. The lure of big shiny things leads many people astray even before they try to use them in the way advertised.

I'm sure the swivelling headlights idea has been tried before. I can think of a few situations which might make the new "semi smart" cruise control less of a blessing than the ads make it out to be.
What does concern me is that there is renewed mention of the systems which track the edge of the road and lane markings so as to make it "easier" to keep the car in lane.
Will they detect cyclists?
Reliably?

There's something so depressing about the prospect of being mown down by some idiot driving on auto pilot that it has to be almost inevitable

Tom Richardson wrote:

JohnW wrote:There's nothing wrong with any car, until someone gets in them and starts the engine up

I don't think thats true. The lure of big shiny things leads many people astray even before they try to use them in the way advertised.

Is that the case? - I'm sure you're right. I've thought for a long time that getting behind a wheel changes some peoples' personalities - sometimes quite dramatically.

I can't speak from experience, because I've never driven. Heaven forbid that.

I'm certainly afraid that the more aggressive driving promoted by some of the car adverts gives the ok, and credibility, to bad driving behaviour - suggests that aggressive and fast driving is socially acceptable - macho /necessary even.

A bit worrying that they are looking at such a narrow section of what is ahead of them that this makes any difference.
On the other hand to work well it should look tighter into the turn than your wheels are pointing, with the problem that it doesnt know if the turn is about to change direction.
Will the car have to have its wheels perfectly aligned during its MOT test as the testing equipment is so sensitive?
I suppose it stops you asking about its economy figures.

Swiveling headlights:- Citroen DS in the 60's (a beautiful looking vehicle)

Sounds like the old Citroen 2CV where the headlights turned the same time as the wheels.

I recently hired a Renault Clio in France, that had an extra light that came on when you turned the wheel a certain amount. It seemed very odd at first, but was very helpful in dark roads in France where they don't have cats eyes.

Motor Cycles always did have lights that turned with the steering, odd makes did try the fixed headlight set-up but it was never popular. Car Manufacturers always used fixed headlight set-up as it was cheaper. I have never seen any problems with motorcyclists not being able to see cyclists (provided they have lights and reflective clothing, anyone stupid enough to wear all black clothing deserve all they get).

Peter Rowell wrote: anyone stupid enough to wear all black clothing deserve all they get).

They'll be the baddies I suppose anyway

My original gripe is not with the technology - it seems sensible for the lights to point the way the driver is steering.

My gripe is with the tag-line on the Audi advert: "SEES things before you do"

The word SEE is wrong. A car cannot 'see' (unless it's fitted with the kind of technology seen on sci-fi movies).

It is the driver who has to do the looking, no matter where the headlights are pointing - and in the dark, extra care and attention is required!

Perhaps cars need to be sold with health warinings (like the kind on cigarettes - "cars can kill").

JQ666 wrote:My original gripe is not with the technology - it seems sensible for the lights to point the way the driver is steering.

My gripe is with the tag-line on the Audi advert: "SEES things before you do"

The word SEE is wrong. A car cannot 'see' (unless it's fitted with the kind of technology seen on sci-fi movies).

It is the driver who has to do the looking, no matter where the headlights are pointing - and in the dark, extra care and attention is required!

Perhaps cars need to be sold with health warinings (like the kind on cigarettes - "cars can kill").

Heres me thinking its the drivers fault

reohn2 wrote:

JQ666 wrote:My original gripe is not with the technology - it seems sensible for the lights to point the way the driver is steering.

My gripe is with the tag-line on the Audi advert: "SEES things before you do"

The word SEE is wrong. A car cannot 'see' (unless it's fitted with the kind of technology seen on sci-fi movies).

It is the driver who has to do the looking, no matter where the headlights are pointing - and in the dark, extra care and attention is required!

Perhaps cars need to be sold with health warinings (like the kind on cigarettes - "cars can kill").

Heres me thinking its the drivers fault

I agree with your implication that a car is not dangerous independant of the driver.

But, we all know that the majority of car drivers drive regularly above the speed limit (I have no stats to back this up, only personal experience of being a driver), and so "irresponsible" driving is now a generally accepted norm (we have all heard the guy down the pub complaining that he got fined, but was "ONLY doing 36 in a 30").

So, if this is the generally accepted norm, then cars ARE dangerous, since the default position is that they are driven irresponsibly. Therefore, I see no reason why there shouldn't be a health warning: "cars can kill".