The Lemon Fool

Lootman wrote:Needless to say I am not a fan of EVs or self-driving technology, but that is a discussion for another topic and time.

Irrespective, that is the main way that advances in cars are taking place.

A device that restricts the steering to 4 degrees to the left or right which is only bypassed by using the trafficators, so drivers don't "forget".

marronier wrote:A device that restricts the steering to 4 degrees to the left or right which is only bypassed by using the trafficators, so drivers don't "forget".

Trafficators!
That's going back a bit. Ah, those were the days.

--kiloran

A link betwixt windows and 'sound system', so the sound is shut off when the windows are opened.

V8

marronier wrote:A device that restricts the steering to 4 degrees to the left or right which is only bypassed by using the trafficators, so drivers don't "forget".

That’s any car with Lane Keep Assist, which is on most new cars.

Try to change lanes without indicating and the warning alarm will sound and the car will resist your attempt to turn right or left.

https://www.euroncap.com/en/vehicle-saf ... e-support/

I'd like all cars to be frumpy and ugly and utilitarian. No more howling V8's, svelte contours and engineered interiors. I want to look at a car and have no emotion at all.
That way I would have and will save a fortune.
Saying that, we're getting close with the electric offering.

Henry Ford had the right idea.

'Any Color So Long As It Is Black.'

A less aggressive-sounding horn to replace the existing one, maybe more of a toot than a honk. It still needs to work as a warning device but its use for other purposes would need to seem, to the misuser, to be less attractive; like threatening to hit someone with a bunch of daffodils.

Examples,

"Toot, toot, get a move on you dozy twit, can't you see that the lights have changed from red to red and amber?"

"Toot, toot, I've been stuck behind you doing about 15mph for the last two miles, you have had lots of opportunities to squeeze past that cyclist on this narrow, winding road; there hasn't been any traffic coming the other way so you wouldn't have smashed head-on into anyone if you had chanced it."


Julian F. G. W.

I would abolish touch screens. I do not see how they can be compatible with road safety.

TJH

jfgw wrote:"Toot, toot,.

FOGHORN -get out my expletive way

jfgw wrote:A less aggressive-sounding horn to replace the existing one, maybe more of a toot than a honk.

Some well-bred cars of yore had switchable town and country horns, to make less or more noise.

Me, I think a horn is an important safety device, the louder the better, so on my Rambler, I have quad freight-train horns removed from a Cadillac.

V8

Remote engine 'kill switch' that could be used by the police to prevent car chases where other road users lives are endangered.

Better security to stop theft ( part of the feature above..remote engine disablement)

A device on my car that tells the other car "Your headlights are not adjusted correctly" (and an automatic adjustment of headlights on the other car)

A device that prevents tailgating...automatically reduces the speed of the following vehicle to maintain a safer distance.

monabri wrote:A device that prevents tailgating...automatically reduces the speed of the following vehicle to maintain a safer distance.

My C Class Mercedes has a beep and a red warning on the dash if i get too close

Rob

88V8 wrote:Me, I think a horn is an important safety device, the louder the better, so on my Rambler, I have quad freight-train horns removed from a Cadillac.

It is an important safety device which would work a lot better if people didn't cry wolf. My argument is that a toot that is only ever used to signify danger would give a much clearer warning than a blast which is usually used to mean "get a move on, get out of my way" or "you shouldn't have done that you idiot".


Julian F. G. W.

MyNameIsUrl wrote:In the settings, the ability to set the indicator clicking much louder so that those with imperfect hearing don’t forget to cancel the indicators.

Some Mazdas have that, though there isn't that much difference.

I think cars are far too comfortable. A modern car is comfy to sit in, with buttons to play with, radio, podcasts at the touch of a button, aircon, and our EV is so much fun when you put your foot down and it just goes woosh, in a way that I never enjoyed driving an ICE car.

So it all encourages us to drive more miles, and spend time in the car. With an ICE car we are polluting the atmosphere. With an EV we are consuming great lithium quarries in distant places. Both options kill untold numbers of insects contributing to their decline. Both spew toxic dust from worn tyres in the countryside, heavy EVs and SUVs more so than light cars. The new roads further fragment habitats, damage the quality of life near them, destroy trees and productive farmland. EVs probably encourage us to drive three times as many miles when under the impression we are only a third as polluting per mile.

So I propose that we reduce features in cars. They should be made far less comfortable. Aircon & heaters should be unavailable or inefficient (usually the case anyway in any car I've had). Everything should rattle loudly about 50mph. Radio should be restricted to one station you don't like much. Seats should be lumpy and awkward. Sleek manly exteriors should be outlawed. Acceleration should be limited to about 15 seconds 0-60. That'll stop the boy racers in town too.

This way the number of miles driven, pollution, environmental damage and injuries would all plummet. We'd all be grumpier when we got home, but would spend so much more time with our families instead.

And an "oops, I'm sorry" indicator light should be installed.

I'm only half joking about all this. It would work. It'll never happen in reality, but if I ruled the world I'd do this.

jfgw wrote:

88V8 wrote:Me, I think a horn is an important safety device, the louder the better, so on my Rambler, I have quad freight-train horns removed from a Cadillac.

[The horn] is an important safety device which would work a lot better if people didn't cry wolf. My argument is that a toot that is only ever used to signify danger would give a much clearer warning than a blast which is usually used to mean "get a move on, get out of my way" or "you shouldn't have done that you idiot".

I don't believe I have ever hooted at somebody to get out of my way, because I don't really think it makes the world a better place. I do admit to having blasted at people doing exceptionally dangerous things at roundabouts - but very, very rarely, and only if they've made me properly angry with their presumption. Might be once a year, probably less than that.

Most of the use my horn gets (again very rarely), is to say "oi, mate, the lights have turned green and you still haven't put your phone down. How about paying a bit of attention and putting that thing into gear?"

And what I want for that is the shortest, politest, most un-aggressive sound I can possibly have. I'm a bit surprised that air horns are allowed at all on passenger vehicles. (I'll make an exception for trucks.)

BJ

I used to have twin air horns on my motorbike.

Tremendous they were. Except you couldn't really use them after dark because the headlight dimmed when you sounded them.

Max speed of 55mph