Iduhnno, Andre.
I'm of two minds about electronic gee-whizzardry in automobiles and trucks. On the one hand, things like lane-departure warnings and blind-spot detectors are helpful...but I think they may encourage over-dependence on gadgets to the exclusion of basic *watchfulness*. My '89 Honda Civic si has not a single cup-holder (Ol' Man Soichiro figured you ought to be *driving* when behind the wheel or a sporting Honda, not dining), and the compete absence of such devices makes me watchful at a more involved level. A passenger recently opined my head swiveled like it was on a stick -- well, yeah. I *always*always*always* make a physical glance back before making a right turn, so I won't be doing it over an unseen cyclist. The right-hand and rearview mirrors do not catch everything, even on a car with 319° of outward vision, as Honda's ads of the day proclaimed.
On the other hand, I don't see the clock turning back, and people are ever more distracted while behind the wheel, so if the vehicle can take over some of the "watching" duties -- and put on the brakes -- so much the better, I suppose. Of course, they have to compete with cell-phoning in the car, installed and watched (!) television monitors in the visors and rearview mirror, keying directional requests into the GPS, aerobically disciplining children in the backseat, smoking, and eating. There's not enough hands and arms left to drive.
I'm not really grumpy about it, despite how it may sound. When I was out on the Nomad yesterday, everyone behaved well and was alert while driving and not an active TV monitor in sight. A great day!
Best,
Dan.
