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The Dangers of Luxury Cars and GPS

ieee Spectrum -- On the road, we increasingly rely on imperfect computer systems

Spectrum editor Steven Cherry talks to contributor Robert Charette about the risks and implications of technologies that are meant to make driving better. Recently, a California Highway patrolman and his family died in a car crash when he was unable to stop his Lexus ES350 from accelerating. In New York state, incomplete GPS information has contributed to an increase of commercial truck accidents, which has prompted potential legislation. Charette discusses how these particular stories illustrate the automation paradox--the more human operators rely on computer systems, the less likely they'll be ready to respond when those systems fail.

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Submitted Dec 01, 2012 By: ExplorerWA

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52MPG Champion Author Dayton Posts:7,247 Points:1,738,780 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Dec 2, 2012 3:37:03 PM Ignore 52MPG Report Abuse To many distractions.
blupupher Champion Author Houston Posts:3,528 Points:744,045 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Dec 2, 2012 8:53:36 AM Ignore blupupher Report Abuse totally worthless blurb.
jethro5000 Champion Author Kentucky Posts:1,862 Points:387,710 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Dec 2, 2012 8:51:52 AM Ignore jethro5000 Report Abuse I still set that a driver has to use his mind, can't totally rely on computers...
yardslave Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:2,539 Points:593,005 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Dec 2, 2012 5:44:32 AM Ignore yardslave Report Abuse It's a computer. Some hardware and software. Not a God......
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:32,917 Points:2,341,510 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Dec 2, 2012 4:07:15 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse The Dangers of Luxury Cars and GPS and it all comes down to using common sense. GPS systems, programs and map updates are Not perfect. Do No rely on a GPS unit with your life! A GPS unit is only a navigational aid Not to be used as the last word on vehicle travel. Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, vehicle manufactures Produce and the population ‘Drives’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. The price of fuel at the pump is too high! XII/XXII/MMXII!
yankeeriffraff Veteran Author Phoenix Posts:386 Points:218,500 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Dec 2, 2012 12:01:21 AM Ignore yankeeriffraff Report Abuse A lot of the commercial truck accidents are caused by trying to get a 12 ft truck through an 11 ft underpass - doesn't fit.
bston Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:1,800 Points:638,275 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 11:53:41 PM Ignore bston Report Abuse They're not foolproof!
Tiernan Champion Author Chicago Posts:3,460 Points:815,825 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 11:39:50 PM Ignore Tiernan Report Abuse Best not to depend on it solely.
PrinceLH Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,677 Points:535,120 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 11:11:27 PM Ignore PrinceLH Report Abuse GPS is helpful but is also dangerous at times.
jkpsr Champion Author New Jersey Posts:4,069 Points:1,099,105 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 11:04:38 PM Ignore jkpsr Report Abuse Trust, but verify!
obimerrill Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:1,425 Points:286,790 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 11:02:39 PM Ignore obimerrill Report Abuse You have to use it intelligently
peridotgal Rookie Author New York Posts:8 Points:8,215 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 11:01:54 PM Ignore peridotgal Report Abuse GPS may work for some people but I have never found it to be useful. I do not own one of these devices but a couple of friends have them. Needless to say, more than once we have traveled in circles or in the wrong direction because of incorrect directional information in the device. My husband stills keeps an atlas in his car. Whenever we are traveling and stop for a break, we look for maps. There are many state run facilities that provide maps for free. AAA is also another good choice for travel. Family members have requested maps and current road information prior to taking a trip. The information has always been very useful. What happened if the GPS is stolen from your vehicle? A friend of mine has had two of them stolen from her van. Thieves are not likely to steal paper maps. Sometimes, the old ways are the better ways. It is not hard to learn how to read a map. It's also cheaper on the wallet.
rahcat Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,453 Points:659,275 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 11:00:51 PM Ignore rahcat Report Abuse Old News
ortegs12009 Champion Author California Posts:1,250 Points:706,150 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:52:33 PM Ignore ortegs12009 Report Abuse gas
bvrbill Champion Author Eugene Posts:3,193 Points:514,850 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:51:59 PM Ignore bvrbill Report Abuse I always check out a map,first.
DEG Champion Author Las Vegas Posts:17,605 Points:3,491,680 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:50:25 PM Ignore DEG Report Abuse Hopefully Microsoft never writes the software to control cars.
SavALot Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:8,454 Points:1,707,835 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:47:28 PM Ignore SavALot Report Abuse Not a clear and present danger
PizzaMon Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:5,134 Points:1,859,780 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:46:53 PM Ignore PizzaMon Report Abuse Bad hyperlink.
vibdata Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:4,079 Points:847,350 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:46:46 PM Ignore vibdata Report Abuse On the road? Try everywhere. You know your medical procedures are most likely controlled by Microsoft Windows???? That should be ILLEGAL.
gd83goldwinger Champion Author South Bend Posts:1,428 Points:501,980 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:45:27 PM Ignore gd83goldwinger Report Abuse True.
sickhp Champion Author San Antonio Posts:1,359 Points:513,130 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:41:31 PM Ignore sickhp Report Abuse I use GPS daily and will continue.
jorod55 Champion Author California Posts:1,460 Points:427,950 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:39:36 PM Ignore jorod55 Report Abuse I still don't trust GPS systems. Once one of them wanted me to turn down a foot trail. Not happening in a 30 foot motor home. I like my paper maps, thank you.
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:9,835 Points:1,609,325 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:36:47 PM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse The text shown above is all there is and the audio won’t play. Oh well, it is obvious that there is too much electronic jimcrackery in cars nowadays. Better to remove the distractions, leave the driver alone and let him drive.
AllStarFame Rookie Author Columbus Posts:6 Points:104,545 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:35:44 PM Ignore AllStarFame Report Abuse Flaws of technology.
preacherjohn Champion Author Modesto Posts:3,974 Points:1,915,840 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:35:37 PM Ignore preacherjohn Report Abuse I think they are as bad as a phone for distraction.
ramshot412 Champion Author Riverside Posts:20,132 Points:2,462,465 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:35:10 PM Ignore ramshot412 Report Abuse Okay.
tjc09f Veteran Author Tallahassee Posts:468 Points:667,070 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:32:41 PM Ignore tjc09f Report Abuse Interesting
JimVP All-Star Author Chicago Posts:627 Points:151,935 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:30:07 PM Ignore JimVP Report Abuse Still do not use cruise control though my cars have them. While driving you should be awake.
suzmar Champion Author Texas Posts:2,210 Points:869,225 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:27:08 PM Ignore suzmar Report Abuse The driver still has to be alert.
TornadoRed Champion Author Minnesota Posts:1,825 Points:707,865 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:22:31 PM Ignore TornadoRed Report Abuse Incidentally, regarding accidents involving commercial trucks.... the GPS map systems I'm familiar with do not differentiate between truck routes and non-truck routes. So a trucker could easily be directed to turn onto a highway not designed to handle a truck of his size.
flyfast Champion Author Kansas City Posts:9,233 Points:1,822,035 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:19:54 PM Ignore flyfast Report Abuse you still have to drive the car
jl1rp Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:1,794 Points:353,555 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:17:11 PM Ignore jl1rp Report Abuse Just wait till self driving cars hit the road. Less tech make better drivers.
GrumpyCat Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,594 Points:786,900 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:16:17 PM Ignore GrumpyCat Report Abuse Silly "journalists" let their computers do their writing for them. All they care to hear is the problems. They never look to find the instances where the GPS helped. The California highway patrolman died in a car with a low tech floor mat wedging the accelerator pedal. It happened in the same car, same floor mats, several days prior to his fatal accident.
mplato Champion Author Columbia Posts:8,234 Points:1,812,245 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:15:10 PM Ignore mplato Report Abuse next will be dangers of driving and full moons
nimpy Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:8,120 Points:1,698,080 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:14:02 PM Ignore nimpy Report Abuse Just remember humans programmed and invented the technology
serrog Champion Author Nova Scotia Posts:5,549 Points:1,509,205 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:13:45 PM Ignore serrog Report Abuse Only as good as the dumb humans who rely on it
s6sputnik Champion Author Austin Posts:6,209 Points:1,304,395 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:10:28 PM Ignore s6sputnik Report Abuse Silly stuff technology!
DarthDadJr Champion Author Virginia Posts:7,297 Points:1,517,945 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:10:06 PM Ignore DarthDadJr Report Abuse I find GPSs useful, but we need to remember that it is fallible and can be wrong.
GigHarborHound Champion Author Tacoma Posts:2,517 Points:484,490 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:09:23 PM Ignore GigHarborHound Report Abuse Not again!!
HA4CNN Champion Author Toronto Posts:5,604 Points:1,539,490 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:08:47 PM Ignore HA4CNN Report Abuse People should not follow GPS 100%.
CiVX Champion Author Oakland Posts:7,044 Points:1,356,785 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:07:31 PM Ignore CiVX Report Abuse I have a luxury car with radio and power windshield wipers.
CHEAPERBETTER Veteran Author Lansing Posts:416 Points:714,595 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:06:29 PM Ignore CHEAPERBETTER Report Abuse And they want us to have a car that drives itself. I don't think so.
TornadoRed Champion Author Minnesota Posts:1,825 Points:707,865 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 10:03:12 PM Ignore TornadoRed Report Abuse Want a laugh? Go to Google Maps, ask for directions between Wayzata, MN and Saint Paul, MN. Then look at the directions -- especially what you are asked to do about mid-span on I-94 crossing the Mississippi River.
TornadoRed Champion Author Minnesota Posts:1,825 Points:707,865 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 9:58:56 PM Ignore TornadoRed Report Abuse I can see how relying on GPS directions could lead to an accident, if one takes a turn that he wasn't supposed to and then tries to over-correct. This is more likely to happen where there are inadequate signs or signs that are themselves unclear.
wayoung56 Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,785 Points:815,310 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 9:57:55 PM Ignore wayoung56 Report Abuse I have seen too many glaring map errors to put complete trust in a GPS, they are just aids in navigation, not a solve all problems panacea... I still use paper maps to pre-plan trips whenever possible.
Gas4Gore Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,401 Points:419,875 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 9:57:34 PM Ignore Gas4Gore Report Abuse Oh my!
sackman All-Star Author North Carolina Posts:598 Points:271,450 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 9:54:36 PM Ignore sackman Report Abuse Interesting...
Spankster85 Champion Author Chicago Posts:1,709 Points:353,065 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 9:51:59 PM Ignore Spankster85 Report Abuse The problem is that GPS systems that are built into the actual vehicle are updated less frequently than a stand alone or phone GPS. Part of the issue is that the built in systems are way too expensive to update.
GoGoGoodyear Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:2,048 Points:505,335 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 9:50:54 PM Ignore GoGoGoodyear Report Abuse When the FAA investigates an aircraft accident, unless it was caused by an entirely unforseeable mechanical failure it always comes down to the pilot's responsibility, which is #1 above all else to maintain control of the aircraft. Telling the FAA that your navigation instruments were faulty does not cut it. It should be the same for a driver. It's true that the convenience of electronic stuff is making us lazier. I'm astounded by store cashiers these days being unable to make change unless the cash register tells them how much to give back. What ever happened to training?
yorkygurl2008 Veteran Author Indiana Posts:257 Points:51,785 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Dec 1, 2012 9:48:03 PM Ignore yorkygurl2008 Report Abuse PEOPLE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION