Regulators Propose Mandatory Brake Override Technology

It is sad that we need such technology and it is sad that the gov't wants to mandate it since car manufacturers have not been too proactive to implement it. However with the ever increased traffic complexity and ever distracted drivers we are going to see a lot more of these safety and autonomy intrusive technologies and mandates.

— vdiv (View Profile)

Posted on 4/13/2012 10:00:07 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

The technology does work, Nissan has had it for years. With throttle by wire it is not complex to implement.

However I agree with you, no technology or mandate can cure the stupid, it only grows more of them.

— vdiv (View Profile)

Posted on 4/13/2012 10:56:45 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

You're correct. The problem is people that address the "unintended acceleration" issue by using the brake to maintain steady speed rather than immediately bringing the car to a stop. Doing the former, It wouldn't take too long to overheat the brakes and end up with not enough braking power to stop the car. Even then, they should be smart enough to put the car in neutral, but with the way driver training is these days that could be asking a lot.

— holmstar (View Profile)

Posted on 4/13/2012 11:29:46 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

In the words of comedian Ron White, "You can't fix stupid."

No law will ever prevent a driver from mashing the gas pedal while BELIEVING they are standing on the brake. That's what happened to both Audi and Toyota in their alleged unintended acceleration debacle. At least that's what CSIs, government inquisitions, and even NASA concluded.

So what's the solution? Pass a law to mandate a device that will prevent what people BELIEVED was happening, from actually happening, even though it never happened. Kinda makes ya go hmmmmmm.

Actually, I think this is a great idea. As soon as all vehicles are equipped with this brake override technology, the first incident of alleged unintended acceleration will have everyone universally yell at the driver: Hey stupid! It's YOU!!! Oooops. I just thought of something. We still have an ignorant, sensation-driven media who will latch onto the allegation and report it as though it was true. And we'll have hoards of stupid people in the public who will assume guilt, all without a shred of evidence to support their beliefs, and who will demand that something be done about those people-killing cars. And we'll have government inquisitions trying to find a mechanical flaw where none exists. And we'll have an innocent auto-maker persecuted and publicly condemned, all because of popular belief, in spite of what all the evidence and facts say. And then, when the dust settles, and we once again conclude it was a driver mashing the gas pedal while believing they were standing on the brake, we'll just have the conspiracy theorists who are still clinging to their beliefs that there was an actual defect, and that it was covered up by the Big Evil Car Company. And we can add this to the Audi and Toyota rack.

Ron White was right. You can't fix stupid.

— Steve (View Profile)

Posted on 4/13/2012 11:35:12 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Why do we go out of our way to create techology and laws to accomodate stupid or lazy people.

— 85bmw745i (View Profile)

Posted on 4/14/2012 10:26:43 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

It's called IDIOT PROOF technology....

— knowitall1985 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/14/2012 2:49:02 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

When ever you try to build an idiot proof technology, natures comes along with a new and improved idiot.

— Steve (View Profile)

Posted on 4/15/2012 10:31:15 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2