Thracian Posted 1 July 2016 Posted 1 July 2016 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36680043 You have to admire the pioneers of new technology in daring to tread where others daren't. And there are almost always improvements to be made. My oldest drives an all-electric Tesla with this kind of technology and, travelling beside him, I remember thinking it'd be hard to ever imagine trusting to technology rather than your own hands when it comes driving along a British road. Aircraft and ships I can understand but the hustle and bustle of always busy roads? Not a chance. It seems clear this incident involved a trailer and I've always thought trailers were an accident waiting to happen because it is so easy for a driver to forget that any vehicle can be towing something extra behind them. The initial thought is that the trailer was the same colour as the light around it and the technology might not have recognised that it was a trailer. Whatever, you can be sure they'll find out and that improvements will be made. I don't think it'll ever make me trust the technology any more than you can trust the claim near the bottom of the report that says the battery lasts "at least" 230 miles before needing a recharge. Whoever wrote that has enough imagination to be an author cos they must have used very particular speeds and/or conditions. Because, for normal driving, around 160 miles seems more like the norm. Still good, but iffy enough to mean my rustic old Peugeot diesel, with its 340,000 miles on the clock, would still be likely to win a race from Leicester to Cardiff and back given the time it takes to do the charging! And even if it didn't, my lad would be nabbed in the speed traps! That said, the Tesla really is a fabulous drive and I hope they get the gremlins sorted despite this pioneering tragedy.
Crinklyfox Posted 2 July 2016 Posted 2 July 2016 Cars today are full of technology that we trust, I believe that electric cars will be the future and when they become financially accessible to the masses then we'll get used to their technology. When I started driving cars were relatively simple, with a bit of know-how you could do your own servicing - not today for most of us. Systems like ABS, parking assist and traction control didn't exist then but we take them for granted now. As I have grown older I've become aware that my reactions are not what they used to be and I can't drive as far without stiffening up and tiring so have adjusted my driving accordingly, it would be great to have the car take my deficiencies out of my hands. The end result should be that we could all drive more safely, for longer.
Vlad the Fox Posted 3 July 2016 Posted 3 July 2016 If the other options the wife then technology wins hands down. Even after 229 miles.
davieG Posted 3 July 2016 Posted 3 July 2016 It's certainly a step up from my first vehicle No heating Flag indicators No window winding mechanism just a square piece of glass glued to the window Total rust box with see through sills Front passenger seat held in by a couple of thin metal brackets No wing mirrors unlike the deluxe model above,
Bellend Sebastian Posted 3 July 2016 Posted 3 July 2016 Allegedly watching a Harry Potter film on a portable DVD player at the time of the crash. Why would a 40 something man be doing that? What a way to go. If he was knocking one out over Emma Watson I hope it was one of the recent ones
separator Posted 3 July 2016 Posted 3 July 2016 The Hoff had it right back in the 80's... a car that could drive itself, talk to you on long journeys, and go into pursuit mode to get you away from the old bill.
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