[The other Sean]

While there might be benefits with implementing it under the conditions we have now, my argument was that by doing this some people might get more complacent and overconfident. It has the potential to make some people more careless, seeing as they would have an added safety net. In the end, chances are the overall numbers would stay the same, or very close. And as far as the studies, who conducted them? Who studied the police reports? Who said that these systems make such a huge difference? Someone impartial, or someone involved in making these products, and who stands to profit from it? Or were they funded by people who stand to make the profit? Call me paranoid, but I've seen useless "safety" products in different applications that were pushed by the manufacturers. People creating a demand for one of their products so they can profit from the rest of us. Im not saying this is the absolute truth behind this story, I'm just curious about knowing more before I put my faith in something that someone else swears by.

One more thing to understand is how unintelligent the general population is. In all honesty, a large portion of the driving population should not be driving. Just operating a motor vehicle is task enough for them. While you may be a skilled driver, most people are not. I've been a bicyclist, motorcyclist and a pedestrian for enough years to have seen enough times where the driver of the car "did not see" or was completely zoned out while behind the wheel. Go ahead and add any kind of safety measures to a car.

 

[firemanspock]

One more thing to understand is how unintelligent the general population is. In all honesty, a large portion of the driving population should not be driving. Just operating a motor vehicle is task enough for them. While you may be a skilled driver, most people are not. I've been a bicyclist, motorcyclist and a pedestrian for enough years to have seen enough times where the driver of the car "did not see" or was completely zoned out while behind the wheel. Go ahead and add any kind of safety measures to a car.

You said it right, "a large portion of the driving population should not be driving." We don't just give a pilot's license to someone just because they have a pulse. Why do we with a driver's license? You can't make something truly idiot proof. Someone will just make a bigger idiot. If someone is not able to safely drive a motor vehicle, they should not have access to one. We can't just pile on safety features and think that will solve the problem. I believe that improved safety systems, as well as also facing actual consequences will help to make roads safer.

Protecting pedestrians and cyclists from being injured is a great goal. But there also needs to be harsher penalties for people who do something as stupid as slamming into a parked car just because they saw the color green flash in front of them.

The following is what was left once I realized I was starting on a rant again... ::grin::

A speeding ticket - while in my personal vehicle, not on the clock - once cost me my job. It took me 6 years to recover financially from that. No property damage, no bodily injury, just a speeding violation. I made a mistake, what the state referred to as, "An isolated instance of poor judgement." I'm not here to argue my innocence. I paid for that mistake, and I learned my lesson. I drive the speed limit, and make sure to stay as aware as I can behind the wheel. My wife likes to call me when she's on the way home from work. I tell her to hang up, drive safely, and we can talk when she's home. I don't expect others to be any more responsible than what I'm already willing to be.