I like the way this video highlights how a series of apparently reasonable steps may result in an unreasonable outcome. Yet opposing the first step can be made to seem unreasonable or reactionary.
All too true. I bought a new VW Tiguan in August. Interesting process. Because I don't really want a deteriorating liability in my name, I've signed over a chunk of our income to drive a car belonging to VW (or some shadowy entity - who really gets my money?) and everything is done for me. Services, repairs, reminders, etc. All I have to do is insure it and put petrol in.
It tells me how to drive. It actually monitors how many "mistakes" I make in driving, and a little "coffee cup" symbol will flash up to tell me I'm tired. It's got automatic gears and handbrake, of course, so none of that holding the car on the clutch business. Lights decide for themselves, including dipping for oncoming traffic and built-up areas. It parks itself; I just check on the "infotainment display" (I thought it might show films!) that it has chosen the right space, take my hands off the wheel, and in we go. Alarmingly, it won't let me wander out of lane, so if I see a hazard and try to suddenly pull out, I'm fighting against the wheel. My two favourite functions that I've found so far? The first is a computer setting which prevents a serious collision if the driver becomes incapacitated at speed. It brakes the car, signals, and actually changes lanes to stop on the hard shoulder. Just the thing for a chap like me in his mid-sixties who likes to drive fast but is prone to heart-attack or stroke. And, of course, what we call the "Greta function": it tells me off if I drive in a non-eco way.
So we are halfway there already. Do you remember manual chokes?!
Manual chokes. Ah, that reminds me of the old joke about a woman who bought a new car. She returned it to the showroom because it was only giving her fifteen mpg. It turned out she thought the choke was somewhere to hang her handbag.
Sam - my cousin is a retired motor mechanic. Not long ago he bought a new car with lots of driving assistance built in, but found it interfered with his driving to such an extent that he decided it was unsafe and changed it for a simpler and cheaper model. Another relative has had similar problems with a high end Volvo but has managed to switch off some of the most annoying systems.
Yes I do remember manual chokes, I even remember starting handles.
Andy - reminds me of a woman my aunt knew. When learning to drive she was asked why she tried to drive everywhere in first gear. She replied that she was being careful and would only use the others when first was worn out.
3 comments:
All too true. I bought a new VW Tiguan in August. Interesting process. Because I don't really want a deteriorating liability in my name, I've signed over a chunk of our income to drive a car belonging to VW (or some shadowy entity - who really gets my money?) and everything is done for me. Services, repairs, reminders, etc. All I have to do is insure it and put petrol in.
It tells me how to drive. It actually monitors how many "mistakes" I make in driving, and a little "coffee cup" symbol will flash up to tell me I'm tired. It's got automatic gears and handbrake, of course, so none of that holding the car on the clutch business. Lights decide for themselves, including dipping for oncoming traffic and built-up areas. It parks itself; I just check on the "infotainment display" (I thought it might show films!) that it has chosen the right space, take my hands off the wheel, and in we go. Alarmingly, it won't let me wander out of lane, so if I see a hazard and try to suddenly pull out, I'm fighting against the wheel. My two favourite functions that I've found so far? The first is a computer setting which prevents a serious collision if the driver becomes incapacitated at speed. It brakes the car, signals, and actually changes lanes to stop on the hard shoulder. Just the thing for a chap like me in his mid-sixties who likes to drive fast but is prone to heart-attack or stroke. And, of course, what we call the "Greta function": it tells me off if I drive in a non-eco way.
So we are halfway there already. Do you remember manual chokes?!
Manual chokes. Ah, that reminds me of the old joke about a woman who bought a new car. She returned it to the showroom because it was only giving her fifteen mpg. It turned out she thought the choke was somewhere to hang her handbag.
Sam - my cousin is a retired motor mechanic. Not long ago he bought a new car with lots of driving assistance built in, but found it interfered with his driving to such an extent that he decided it was unsafe and changed it for a simpler and cheaper model. Another relative has had similar problems with a high end Volvo but has managed to switch off some of the most annoying systems.
Yes I do remember manual chokes, I even remember starting handles.
Andy - reminds me of a woman my aunt knew. When learning to drive she was asked why she tried to drive everywhere in first gear. She replied that she was being careful and would only use the others when first was worn out.
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