To much safety?
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Suzuka Master
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: SoCal
To much safety?
We've seen automakers debut different accident avoidance features, such as Ford's Collision Warning system with brake assist and Volvo's City Safety that can actually stop a vehicle when a low-speed impact is imminent. But what about being able to avoid collisions at normal driving speeds? Continental AG thinks it has the answer.
Autoblog contributor Rex Roy was invited to tour Continental's facility in Germany hear about different trends in technology. Conti believes that one important new trend is the multiplexing of existing technologies, allowing all sorts of functions to work together for a variety of different functions. Following this trend, Continental has developed its Emergency Steer Assist (ESA), which is mated to vehicles with electronic power steering and an adjustable suspension.
ESA works by having the front radar feed information to the chassis computer, which then calculates closing rates and the likelihood of an evasive maneuver or collision taking place. Sure, this is how current brake assist systems work too, but ESA adds the ability to stiffen the suspension and provide torque assist in steering efforts to coax out the most beneficial steering inputs from the driver.
Continental provided a BMW 5 Series equipped with ESA technology for members of the media to observe, with different exercises being done at 40 and 80 kilometers per hour (25 and 50 mph). Rex gives his impression of the demonstration:
"The magnitude of additional control and response was on the same order of moving to a car with electronic stability control from one without. It's huge. The Conti engineer had the ability to switch the system on and off, and he could change the ESA's level of response, so we were able to do A-B testing that clearly showed the system's effectiveness. The steering torque boost made the last-second emergency lane change almost easy as opposed to scary and dramatic."
Look for this technology to start appearing in the next two to four years. Additionally, because of the level of individual components needed to make ESA possible, we'd expect to see this feature debut in higher-end cars first. Hit the jump to read Continental's official press release and have a look through our attached gallery to see how ESA works.
Autoblog contributor Rex Roy was invited to tour Continental's facility in Germany hear about different trends in technology. Conti believes that one important new trend is the multiplexing of existing technologies, allowing all sorts of functions to work together for a variety of different functions. Following this trend, Continental has developed its Emergency Steer Assist (ESA), which is mated to vehicles with electronic power steering and an adjustable suspension.
ESA works by having the front radar feed information to the chassis computer, which then calculates closing rates and the likelihood of an evasive maneuver or collision taking place. Sure, this is how current brake assist systems work too, but ESA adds the ability to stiffen the suspension and provide torque assist in steering efforts to coax out the most beneficial steering inputs from the driver.
Continental provided a BMW 5 Series equipped with ESA technology for members of the media to observe, with different exercises being done at 40 and 80 kilometers per hour (25 and 50 mph). Rex gives his impression of the demonstration:
"The magnitude of additional control and response was on the same order of moving to a car with electronic stability control from one without. It's huge. The Conti engineer had the ability to switch the system on and off, and he could change the ESA's level of response, so we were able to do A-B testing that clearly showed the system's effectiveness. The steering torque boost made the last-second emergency lane change almost easy as opposed to scary and dramatic."
Look for this technology to start appearing in the next two to four years. Additionally, because of the level of individual components needed to make ESA possible, we'd expect to see this feature debut in higher-end cars first. Hit the jump to read Continental's official press release and have a look through our attached gallery to see how ESA works.
So we need help turning a steering wheel now? Why dont people just start paying attention. Have your car squirt water on your face if you start eating, talking on the phone, or just stop looking at the road. I think that would make people pay attention more
shoot thats not a bad idea. It says that there are a lot of components which just adds more weight to the cars which would actually make handling worse! Among other vital things. Or how about improve all drivers training courses that work on accident avoidance techniques! Instead of the government asking car manufacturers to include soo much safety stuff, why not spend some of their own money and work on accidents not happening in the first place!
Fahrvergnügen'd
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,494
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From: Maryland
Couldn't agree with you more. Raise the driving age to 18 and make all new drivers go through more than the stupid driving classes we make them go through now. Plus mandatory re-certification driving tests every five years for everyone.
Moderator
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It's like a nanny state.... instead of teaching people to become better drivers, lets make cars bigger so they're safer!
Bonki' Ehrite!
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Boca Raton Fl, Mooresville NC
Absolutely, it is getting out of hand....Remember Lexus's claim a few years back that their cars can parallel park themselves in tight spaces...Thats ridiculous! If the "driver" cant even park the damn car, they should not be driving it at all.
I think the driving age is good where its at...A lot of teens are actually very safe, but just make stupid decisions from lack of experience, so no matter the age there will always be that "gap of experience" in new drivers.
If it were up to me, it would go like this...Any traffic offense requires a mandatory class...Drivers under 25 and over 70 should be tested like every 2 years and the rest every 5 years...Unfortunately its not really up to us to decide though...
I think the driving age is good where its at...A lot of teens are actually very safe, but just make stupid decisions from lack of experience, so no matter the age there will always be that "gap of experience" in new drivers.
If it were up to me, it would go like this...Any traffic offense requires a mandatory class...Drivers under 25 and over 70 should be tested like every 2 years and the rest every 5 years...Unfortunately its not really up to us to decide though...
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Thread Starter
Suzuka Master
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: SoCal
With all these safety features that will keep coming out, lets face it what we think will probably not happen, I wonder what the new benchmark for a light weight car will be? 3500 lbs? 
I remember some article on autoblog saying if American went to retake the driving test 1 in 5 would fail... something like that?
I remember some article on autoblog saying if American went to retake the driving test 1 in 5 would fail... something like that?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2007
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Not because I like to cough of money to them...but to make people think twice before doing stupid stuff. More incentive to not, I guess....
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fixed. I only say two years in order to be "fair". I think seniors need to be tested on a more regular basis, but at the same time so do certain other drivers. Also the actual driving tests need to be more strict.... I see way too many dumbasses out there and I'm confident that they can't change their driving habits at a moment's notice.
It's like a nanny state.... instead of teaching people to become better drivers, lets make cars bigger so they're safer!
It's like a nanny state.... instead of teaching people to become better drivers, lets make cars bigger so they're safer!
....and the real problem is driving is perceived as a right when it's really a privilege which can be (and many times should be) readily revoked. As such, many have the attitude that they'll exercise their "right" as they please (i.e.: bad driving habits) with blatant disregard for the safety of others and rule of law.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,181
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From: DFW
Seatbelts, airbags, crush zones, side impact beams, and ABS all add weight, too, but I would not drive a car without them.
I have hit someone that pulled out in front of me. I tried and could not avoid the accident. Not saying that I am an awesome driver, but there is no driver's course on earth that could have helped me avoid it. A computer might have, though, by reacting faster and more accurately than a human being can.
Sure, better driver's training would help avoid accidents, but so does technology.
I have hit someone that pulled out in front of me. I tried and could not avoid the accident. Not saying that I am an awesome driver, but there is no driver's course on earth that could have helped me avoid it. A computer might have, though, by reacting faster and more accurately than a human being can.
Sure, better driver's training would help avoid accidents, but so does technology.
Seatbelts, airbags, crush zones, side impact beams, and ABS all add weight, too, but I would not drive a car without them.
I have hit someone that pulled out in front of me. I tried and could not avoid the accident. Not saying that I am an awesome driver, but there is no driver's course on earth that could have helped me avoid it. A computer might have, though, by reacting faster and more accurately than a human being can.
Sure, better driver's training would help avoid accidents, but so does technology.
I have hit someone that pulled out in front of me. I tried and could not avoid the accident. Not saying that I am an awesome driver, but there is no driver's course on earth that could have helped me avoid it. A computer might have, though, by reacting faster and more accurately than a human being can.
Sure, better driver's training would help avoid accidents, but so does technology.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,213
Likes: 174
From: Portland, Oregon
The problem with systems like stability control and this newfangled Emergency Steer Assist is that they make drivers overconfident in the car's ability to avoid an accident. Because of that you are much more likely to drive aggressively and/or quickly. The same rule was tested with anti-lock brakes using New York City cabs. Drivers who had taxis with ABS tended to drive faster and brake later than those who were driving cars without it.
My Santa Fe doesn't have ABS (last year made before it became standard) and let me tell you, it makes you keep a distance and think ahead because you know full-braking is just going to lock them up. Compare that to the RL which has the CMBS and will stop itself with emergency braking if need be and you've got two totally different animals.
My Santa Fe doesn't have ABS (last year made before it became standard) and let me tell you, it makes you keep a distance and think ahead because you know full-braking is just going to lock them up. Compare that to the RL which has the CMBS and will stop itself with emergency braking if need be and you've got two totally different animals.
Thread Starter
Suzuka Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,012
Likes: 439
From: SoCal
Seatbelts, airbags, crush zones, side impact beams, and ABS all add weight, too, but I would not drive a car without them.
I have hit someone that pulled out in front of me. I tried and could not avoid the accident. Not saying that I am an awesome driver, but there is no driver's course on earth that could have helped me avoid it. A computer might have, though, by reacting faster and more accurately than a human being can.
Sure, better driver's training would help avoid accidents, but so does technology.
I have hit someone that pulled out in front of me. I tried and could not avoid the accident. Not saying that I am an awesome driver, but there is no driver's course on earth that could have helped me avoid it. A computer might have, though, by reacting faster and more accurately than a human being can.
Sure, better driver's training would help avoid accidents, but so does technology.
Yes, all those cars that can now brake on their own, probably would not have helped you. First off, those cars that brake for you send you a warning first and then will take over and brake. Assuming you are paying attention ahead of you it will take your brain .250 seconds, or something like that to react. Which is not slow, and a computer could not have probably made a much faster reaction. In your case, you would have crashed because of the other driver with or without the computer.
Now what we are suggesting involves people not getting into accidents in the first place.
Thread Starter
Suzuka Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,012
Likes: 439
From: SoCal
The problem with systems like stability control and this newfangled Emergency Steer Assist is that they make drivers overconfident in the car's ability to avoid an accident. Because of that you are much more likely to drive aggressively and/or quickly. The same rule was tested with anti-lock brakes using New York City cabs. Drivers who had taxis with ABS tended to drive faster and brake later than those who were driving cars without it.
My Santa Fe doesn't have ABS (last year made before it became standard) and let me tell you, it makes you keep a distance and think ahead because you know full-braking is just going to lock them up. Compare that to the RL which has the CMBS and will stop itself with emergency braking if need be and you've got two totally different animals.
My Santa Fe doesn't have ABS (last year made before it became standard) and let me tell you, it makes you keep a distance and think ahead because you know full-braking is just going to lock them up. Compare that to the RL which has the CMBS and will stop itself with emergency braking if need be and you've got two totally different animals.
There are TOO many nannies on vehicles as it is.
registered pw
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,859
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From: south central pa
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