Chuck
06-08-2006, 06:53 PM
I'm dreaming here.
The highways are less friendly than they were 25 years ago, because:
Vehicles are higher-performance
Vehicles are bigger
People often drive trucks/SUV as if they were nimble and/or small
People drive distracted
People are ruder, less patient
Roads are more crowdedThe ideal solution is for people to behave. When people starting to act irresponsibily, that when laws are passed, additional regulations are made.
Think about all the things at work and in public that you can't do because of the fear of a lawsuit. Business will not take that one-in-a-million chance they would have massive damages assesed against them, so they just don't allow those things.
I'm thinking about distracted drivers. They phone and drive (yes, I know some know how to drive and phone...). You see guys reclined in the one-armed lean I lampoon that is simply not defensive driving. The 1970s is not exactly ancient, but back then they taught you to drive with two hands.
I know the chances of this happening are next to zero, but what if....
....cars were like some industrial equipment that would not function unless both hands were on the steering wheel? High-tech would allow a grace period while you shifted gears or slapped the kids. :p I just skimmed a post that claimed that some hybrids block cell phones....that's not a defect, that's a feature! I think cars that kept cell phones from working while running would be a good idea. At least the threat of a law might be the kick in the butt that would compel a lot of distracted drivers to behave. The threat might be a bunch of lawsuits, rather than a law.
Just some thoughts. I'd rather people just drive better, but maybe the threat of extra laws and regulations might help...
The highways are less friendly than they were 25 years ago, because:
Vehicles are higher-performance
Vehicles are bigger
People often drive trucks/SUV as if they were nimble and/or small
People drive distracted
People are ruder, less patient
Roads are more crowdedThe ideal solution is for people to behave. When people starting to act irresponsibily, that when laws are passed, additional regulations are made.
Think about all the things at work and in public that you can't do because of the fear of a lawsuit. Business will not take that one-in-a-million chance they would have massive damages assesed against them, so they just don't allow those things.
I'm thinking about distracted drivers. They phone and drive (yes, I know some know how to drive and phone...). You see guys reclined in the one-armed lean I lampoon that is simply not defensive driving. The 1970s is not exactly ancient, but back then they taught you to drive with two hands.
I know the chances of this happening are next to zero, but what if....
....cars were like some industrial equipment that would not function unless both hands were on the steering wheel? High-tech would allow a grace period while you shifted gears or slapped the kids. :p I just skimmed a post that claimed that some hybrids block cell phones....that's not a defect, that's a feature! I think cars that kept cell phones from working while running would be a good idea. At least the threat of a law might be the kick in the butt that would compel a lot of distracted drivers to behave. The threat might be a bunch of lawsuits, rather than a law.
Just some thoughts. I'd rather people just drive better, but maybe the threat of extra laws and regulations might help...