"High-tech" Vehicles Not Catching On...

[geekfactory]

http://tinyurl.com/hipy

By DEE-ANN DURBIN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - A vehicle control system that has been proven in Germany to cut down dramatically on accidents is available on just 6 percent of vehicles in the United States.


Of course not. Why spend more money when you can just consistently yell at people for using their Segways?

Amazing how, for a country that freaks out over something as non-intrusive as a Seg as a "danger to people everywhere," how lax we are when it comes to safety.

"Oh, that's gonna add a few dollars to my car's cost? Fuggedaboutit!"

Sigh. A study in paradox.

-Peter

[opti6600]

What's really cool is the PRE-SAFE system they integrate into the Mercedes-Benz MY03 S-classes. That is one hell of a safety system, combining the car's ESP, ABC, SRS, and other new and existing safety systems to react before a crash happens. Probably the best reason to get the luxobarge - although now that I think of it...if you're in an S-class, you should be more worried about who you run into, not who runs into you!

I think it's just a matter of price and a prevalence of consumer ignorance of the importance of safety in controlling their vehicles. Often times, a driver will also overestimate their ability to keep their vehicle under control, hence throwing the thought of safety systems to the wind.

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Let's just take the safety labels off of everything and let America's problem sort itself out.

[citivolus]

It's sad when I bought my truck and asked for all wheel ABS the dealer balked and said that rear wheel abs was standard. I replied that I was concerned about staying on the road and not being _straight_ when sliding off of it. I'm so glad my Seg glides and not slides.

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swiftly flying