Toyota really knows it's demographic...

ND V8 traction control:

Do NOT insert key unless activated.

gearheadmb wrote: I'm not sure why everybody hates on this stuff. People don't pay attention and maybe the drift over center. Maybe this will get them back where they belong before they hit somebody head on or run somebody off the road. "But they should be paying attention!" Yeah, they should, but it doesn't always happen. Its not a new thing either. Its loads of fun to hate on the hipsters, but people have been not paying attention since the days of the model T. We have the technology now to maybe save a life or two. Why is that bad?

Because it's the absolute worst of both worlds. It normalizes inattentive people being in command of something that they expect will do everything for them when it won't. It gives people the false sense that they can just pay the barest attention to their driving and the car will handle anything. I've known people who literally thought that ABS and stability control meant they couldn't crash.

It's the no-mans-land between self-driving cars and 'pay attention or die' that is just going to breed more inattentive idiots. Once the technology hits the point of true autonomy, it's going to bring a different set of troubles, but at least you'll take all the people who have already abdicated most of their authority in driving out of command.

Around here, any knew road paving gets rumble strips in the center lane.

They will really shake your false teeth loose. Don't need no stinking electronics.

I find them annoying when I cut a curve or passing.

I encountered a rolling stereotype on Sunday. There was a big "stance" show in town, and the show cars were everywhere. I was headed up I-95, traveling at about 75 or so in my sweet minivan. I came up on a ridiculously cambered 350z with the shiny paint, stretched tires, bling wheels, and of course sideways stickers covering the back window.

As I passed the poor Nissan, I looked over at the driver---- 20 something kid, wearing a brightly colored ball cap with flat brim on sideways. He was stuffing his face with some sort of food, and had his phone placed upon the hub of his steering wheel---- as he was obviously using it constantly while driving.

THAT guy needs an autonomous car and all the safety nannies he can get! I'm all for getting drivers like this off the road, and unfortunately, they aren't the exception anymore.....they are the norm.

iceracer wrote: Around here, any knew road paving gets rumble strips in the center lane. They will really shake your false teeth loose. Don't need no stinking electronics. I find them annoying when I cut a curve or passing.

I like to move onto the rumble strips to keep my wife's attention.

iceracer wrote: Around here, any knew road paving gets rumble strips in the center lane. They will really shake your false teeth loose. Don't need no stinking electronics. I find them annoying when I cut a curve or passing.

I make a point to buzz it. Feels almost like hitting the curbing on a road course.

gearheadmb wrote: I'm not sure why everybody hates on this stuff. People don't pay attention and maybe the drift over center. Maybe this will get them back where they belong before they hit somebody head on or run somebody off the road. "But they should be paying attention!" Yeah, they should, but it doesn't always happen. Its not a new thing either. Its loads of fun to hate on the hipsters, but people have been not paying attention since the days of the model T. We have the technology now to maybe save a life or two. Why is that bad?

Around here, we have a highway called Route 24. This highway is notorious for having at least two or three accidents a day. About 90% of those accidents are rollovers, and about 99% of those rollovers are performed in a Toyota product, usually a Camry or Corolla. I can see this beeping lane departure system as a cue to cause one of these accidents. ROLLOVER TIME!!!

Sadly, people need to be trained to be more attentive behind the wheel, and in plenty of other situations. A good chunk of the population is too busy to be bothered to pay attention to what's going on around them.

I wonder how long it will be before someone sues an automaker because the safety system didn't stop them from having an accident and the court decides they are right.

P.S. That picture of the brain is really grossing me out.