Remember when you were a little kid and your mom would tell you to sit up straight? Isn’t it great that new cars now do that, too?
All the new vehicles I have test driven so far this year have as standard equipment what are styled “drowsy” or “distracted” driving “technology.” The “technology” consists of an eye-movement monitor built into what looks like it might be a small accessory idiot light housing that’s mounted on top of the steering column, facing the driver. It doesn’t light up but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing there.
Inside that little housing are the eye-movement monitors. If you don’t sit up and look straight ahead, the system will scold you to do just that. It brings back memories of fifth grade and Mrs. Busybody.
But does this actually prevent “drowsy” or “distracted” driving? Or is it just another new car annoyance no one asked for?
Is it not distracting to be pestered constantly by the car? Then there is this idea that looking to the left and right rather than just looking straight ahead is something to be corrected. It used to be encouraged, on the theory that it was a good idea for the driver to be aware of everything in his orbit, not just what’s in front of him.
But that was long ago, when driving was considered a skill to be developed by active participation. This was of course fun and at the same time developed in the driver confidence that he could deal with the situation on his own and that is something the sit up and look straight ahead types react to like Dracula does to sunlight.
They want passivity above all. Tepid, fearful drivers who rely on technology” rather than skill and judgment. Clovers. That they are sprouting like weeds after a storm is no surprise. You get more of what you encourage – and condition.
Speaking of that. People who still want to drive – as opposed to those who want to just sit there and let the car do that – ought to be creeped out by the fact that all of this “technology” is becoming standard in all new vehicles, in view of the fact that no one seems to want it. Yet it’s there. Why? The answer is obvious. We are to be parented by our cars, whether we want to be being as beside the point as not wanting to pay “our” taxes. Incrementally, bit-by-bit, we are being acclimated to having this “technology” in our cars – just as we got used to having air bags. Eventually – inevitably – the “technology” will become more than just an annoyance and a distraction.
Instead of just an electronic harpy pestering you to sit up and look straight ahead, if you don’t, the car will pull itself over and shut down – for saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaafety.
Just wait.
. . .
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They started putting this crap on mine haul trucks 10-15 years ago, courtesy of the world’s number one saaaaafety Nazis, Australia. Nothing like a canned Aussie voice screaming “eyes on path” constantly while you’re trying to watch the idiot behind you in the mirrors. They told us that nobody could see what the cameras see, then it started sending pictures of “drowsiness events” to the management……but it only took pictures in special occasions…..then there was the lawsuit when photos of female drivers started appearing on the internet.
A dab of grease on one sensor would shut the system down, and couldn’t be considered an attempt to disable…..it was just an accident while wiping the dashboard down……
So many things I do not want on any car: turbo, VVT, DI, oil bath timing belts, 3 cylinders, driver assist tech, touch screens, digital gauges, gigantic consoles, tech bloat, feature bloat, push button start….the list grows by the day.
I have been wondering about these devices being able to jam all vehicle communication:
https://www.jammer-store.com/
Has anyone tested this sort of device?
The most critical aspect to crash avoidance is situational awareness. This requires constant monitoring by checking mirrors every 8-10 seconds. Your eyes should be in almost constant motion. A frozen stare straight ahead is a good way to get yourself killed.
And, let’s not forget the swipe/tap BS screen that forces you to focus on something inside the car. All this and more, brought to you by who knows who.
As Seinfeld observed, “Who ARE these people?” “What” might be a better question as in that posed by Mr. Hand.
A nation of Spiccolis.
What about those who find it more comfortable to sit in the drivers seat in a more slouched position? Constant nannying for poor posture? As for the black tape over the camera, I have thought about doing that on more than one occasion…
Start hammering them in the review for that shit. “At the end of the day, it’s a decent vehicle, but I don’t recommend it because of the nanny-state nag features.”
^^^ This. The usual scribblers take extra effort to name and shame cars that aren’t overloaded with this nanny crap. These are the hacks who refer to cars without sun roofs and leather as being “stripped”. That always want moarrrrrrr on any inexpensive car they feature. It’s never enough.
They write to impress other automotive scribes, not to inform the public.
What happens if you’re wearing super dark sunglasses? Will the car of the future, or now for that matter, tell you to remove them before being allowed to continue?
Drive around wearing a Guy Fawkes mask and see what the pigs do. Y’know, the hulking, tatted up, roided-up, buzzcut morons that wear Ray-Ban Aviators, even at NIGHT?
The driver cannot turn “off” the eye monitor?
Of course, the camera will never truly be “off”, but is it possible to turn off the annoying audio/text prompts?
I foresee a time where authoritarian governments and/ or our wannabe technocratic overlords will decree that automobiles that DON’T have these technologies are “Unsafe!”, “Unsustainable”, “off grid!”, or they just outright BAN them from being driven on the roads. Look what they tried to do to people who REFUSED to be guinea pigs for Big Pharma just a few years ago.
I think it’s more likely that they will ban cars altogether.
Perhaps not directly, but the taxes will be so high almost nobody will be able to afford a private vehicle.
Which is essentially happening already.
After all, you won’t need a car – or anything else – while living in your 15-minute city on government’s ‘Universal Basic Income’.
You will own nothing and be happy.
Or else!
The Oregon Legislature wanted to pass a “transportation package” that would have had all sorts of new or increased taxes relating to transportation involving an automobile, such as higher state gas taxes, a vehicle mileage tax, a sales tax on purchasing a new car, a tax on purchasing tires, higher registration fees, tolls on interstate highways, etc. Thankfully though, due to massive opposition from Oregonians, plus dissention from some Democrat legislators, the bill failed, but the state’s Queen, Tina Kotek, hinted at a possible “special session” to fund the state’s transportation department, suggesting that shoving MORE taxes down the throats of Oregonians who drive an automobile is a wet dream of hers.
Morning, John!
I agree. It will be a “soft” ban – achieved by the piling on of expense and hassle such that most people either no longer want to drive or can afford to. It’s so wonderful to live in a free country! I’m going to go put Lee Greenwood on the stereo…
Hi Eric,
Given that Oregon’s Queen and the Democrat supermajority legislature are all-in with this demented climate change agenda, one thing that they shockingly didn’t do was try to sell those MASSIVE taxes in the “transportation” bill to the public as necessary to stop cliiiiiiiiiiimate change, given that there are STILL people in the state who belieeeeeeeeeeeeve the propaganda around it.
“ are STILL people in the state who belieeeeeeeeeeeeve the propaganda around it “
Same BS, different state. WA has the same problem. Complain here “something should do something to rein in this legislation nonsense!” Well, “somebody” did, guy with time and money got organized, got the signatures for an initiative to eliminate the carbon credits scam and it was on the ballot last November. Nope, the ignorant sheep believed the big money lies down in flames it went, not even close.
https://komonews.com/news/local/initiative-2117-state-agencies-carbon-tax-credit-trading-renewable-energy-conservation-emissions-reduction-2024-election-december-5-revenue-state-expenditures
The ironic thing about that is, people who voted to keep the carbon credits scam in WA are probably complaining about high gas prices, but if D politicians blame high gas prices on Trump, they’ll likely eat it up as TRUTH.
My father-in-law was a prime example, Seattle WA homeowner.
“I vote Democrat cause they’re for the little guy!”
Next week his property tax notice shows up in the mail.
“I’m getting taxed out of my own home!”
I told him right there “You voted for it.”
“Huh?” Never could connect the dots.
I’m counting down the days until the car won’t go because you put that piece of masking tape over those sensors, Eric. I’m betting it’s not-so-distant.
We are only one software update away from that possibility.
Pro Tip: electrical tape
Next you’ll be on a “watchlist” for buying electrical tape!
“Hey Joe, where ya goin’ with that roll a’ tape in yo’ hand?”
I have a 2024 Subaru Outback that has this “feature.” I turned it off but it still issues alerts if I pay too much attention to the central touch screen and regular reminders that it’s turned off. I finally used black electrical tape over the camera (Eye of Sauron.) Seems to have worked. I just get a beep on startup.
How about because your “social credit score” went below the level that you’re “,permitted,” to drive? Or buy gasoline, or FOOD? Or results in the water being shut off or the power cut?