Automobiles Bells And Whistles - do they make better drivers?

[MossRoad]

Why would you want to do that? First thing I change when I get a car is to disable the auto door locks.
Back in the 90s I had a Chevy Beretta with a stick...that would lock the doors when the car got to ~5mph. No manufacturer-provided way to disable this annoying feature. Using a wiring diagram I did find a way to disable it without totally disabling the power locks, unfortunately, for some reason the radio would lose all its settings if the car hadn't been driven for a couple of days afterwards. Not sure how the two were connected.

No one in their right mind would want their car doors to unlock automatically when they put their car in park around here.

 

[reb]

No one in their right mind would want their car doors to unlock automatically when they put their car in park around here.

Right. The doors can be open from the inside when locked, so why should they be unlocked automatically?

 

[Oaktree]

No one in their right mind would want their car doors to unlock automatically when they put their car in park around here.

You must live in a way rougher neighborhood than I've ever lived in.

 

[MossRoad]

You must live in a way rougher neighborhood than I've ever lived in.

It's a common precaution in any urban area, but yes, we have our share here. It started in the 60's. Until then, no one locked their doors: homes or cars.

 

[ovrszd]

I drive...
2016 Kenworth had most of the features you guys are talking about(manual 13 speed tranny). At 625,000 miles, they gave me a 2019 International with a 12 speed AUTOMATIC. It has even more of the features. I find myself having to watch the speedometer more often than I used to because it gradually slows down as it comes up on a slow car. While I agree that most of the features help the drivers, but it definitely doesn't make the driver better. It is taking away the need for a driver to pay attention to everything going on around them, which makes for a less attentive driver.
David from jax

Finally on the 65th post someone nailed it. These features make you a lazy drive, not a better driver. Fits right into the narrative this country is accepting. It's not my fault, the car did it!!!!

 

[Industrial Toys]

I gotta say again. When backing up, I don't really look around that well, despite it having become defective, thinking my backup warning system will protect my vehicle. I know it won't but pretend it somehow will, because, I have become that lazy it seems.

 

[Dftodd]

I gotta say again. When backing up, I don't really look around that well, despite it having become defective, thinking my backup warning system will protect my vehicle. I know it won't but pretend it somehow will, because, I have become that lazy it seems.

I do love the back up cameras. They take the guess work put of hooking up to a trailer

 

[Aquamoose]

Modern police vehicles have a nifty feature which when the vehicle senses anyone approaching from the rear, the vehicle automatically rolls up the windows and locks the door. Apparently, they “borrowed” the back-up camera to get that data.

 

[Oaktree]

I do love the back up cameras. They take the guess work put of hooking up to a trailer

They are good for that.
Actually, most modern vehicles have so little visibility to the rear that backup cameras are a must. Even on pickups, if you have a small utility trailer you can't see it any other way.

 

[Industrial Toys]

My eighty something year old Mother totalled her Toyotas (2) and now has a 13 or something Impalla. Black interior like the black hole of Calcutta and I can't see out that thing for sheit! No fancy electronics. I don't know how she does it!