will our courts follow suit with touch screen cars

[Bashy]

Originally Posted by palwing

Interestingly, talking on a phone is illegal as it’s considered distracting, etc. However, I believe that holding a CB radio microphone and talking on it is ok?

That's an old law already in place, perhaps it was over looked at the time the new laws were put in place.

Having used cb many moons agoi feel that its sort of different, I K ow what you're saying but, it's wierd, I feel you could concentrate better using cb than phone, perhaps its the way its held, but I suspect its cause the police still use that style of communication......

[palwing]

I wonder how we coped retuning our Pyle radio buttons as we drove up through the country on dark nights back in the old days. Or finding another 8 track cassette from the passengers parcel shelf to put in the player whilst operating the foot operated dip switch on the floor next to the heavy clutch pedal whilst steering with no power assist. 2 speed wipers? On and off was all I had in my 1962 Hillman Minx.

Got to love modern technology though, especially adaptive cruise control and pilot assist, amongst many other wonderful advances. Safety today is amazing, compared to the rust heaps we drove back then.

[svensktoppen]

Originally Posted by Steve XC60

I am not a Tesla driver, but I understand that there is a traditional stalk with traditional windscreen wiper controls on it. These controls allow the driver to turn on and off the wipers and to change the speed between a number of settings. Accordingly, the windscreen wiper system on the Tesla will meet type approval requirements.

There is a button on the steering wheel which can be configured to turn the wipers on and off.

The Tesla then relies on auto-wipers to adjust the speed.

To manually adjust the speed the only option is to dive into screen menus and find the settings in there.

In fairness this is not really a problem specifically for Tesla. Most modern cars (last 5+ years at least) are going down this route simply because it's cheaper and easier than actual buttons.

It does get hairy though when driving, especially when in an unfamiliar car.

And don't get me started in cameras instead of mirrors

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by svensktoppen

There is a button on the steering wheel which can be configured to turn the wipers on and off.

The Tesla then relies on auto-wipers to adjust the speed.

To manually adjust the speed the only option is to dive into screen menus and find the settings in there.

In fairness this is not really a problem specifically for Tesla. Most modern cars (last 5+ years at least) are going down this route simply because it's cheaper and easier than actual buttons.

It does get hairy though when driving, especially when in an unfamiliar car.

And don't get me started in cameras instead of mirrors

Auto wipers are very fickle too. So it rains. You turn on wipers. They are wiping every 5 seconds or so. You can't see well enough. Darn, they need making more sensitive, so you dive into the menus. Then drive into a tree.....

As proved on traffic cops last night trees are very unforgiving. They went to a fatacc involving a C30 and a tree. The car was travelling at almost twice the 40 limit and hit a tree head on. The tree almost cleaved the C30 completely in half. The driver died at the scene.

[Bashy]

Originally Posted by palwing

I wonder how we coped retuning our Pyle radio buttons as we drove up through the country on dark nights back in the old days. Or finding another 8 track cassette from the passengers parcel shelf to put in the player whilst operating the foot operated dip switch on the floor next to the heavy clutch pedal whilst steering with no power assist. 2 speed wipers? On and off was all I had in my 1962 Hillman Minx.

Got to love modern technology though, especially adaptive cruise control and pilot assist, amongst many other wonderful advances. Safety today is amazing, compared to the rust heaps we drove back then.

A lot more cars on the road today...

[Wagon Sailor]

Originally Posted by Philip Fisher

Auto wipers are very fickle too. So it rains. You turn on wipers. They are wiping every 5 seconds or so. You can't see well enough. Darn, they need making more sensitive ...

I always liked the rotary rheostat on my P6 Rovers: almost infinitely variable within a range - and without taking your eyes off the road.

[palwing]

Originally Posted by Bashy

A lot more cars on the road today...

Agreed...but a lot less roads in those days too, so all relative. There were few motorways and everyone drove on busy A and B roads. In the 60’s there were the infamous summer traffic jams stretching almost from Bristol to Devon on the old A38. Almost unheard of today, since the M5 was built cutting the old un hindered time from over 2 hours to 50 mins (ish)

However, you have to love the the new technology and the way modern cars don’t rust anymore, plus their ease of maintenance. Saying that, the much trumpeted totally driverless cars forecast for the future do not fill me with enthusiasm. Luckily I won’t be around by then.

[Begonia]

On the subject of 'driver distraction', on my XC90 Inscription, I do feel the use of the 'Dynamic' wheel to put the car into 'Dynamic Mode' is really distracting.

1. First, the driver has to look down to find the knurled scrolling wheel and then

2. whilst looking at the Screen instead of the road ahead has to scroll the said wheel and slot the Selector Indication into 'Dynamic' (*) whilst

3. all the while, generally doing all of the above to enhance the vehicle's acceleration and performance.

Hey, Volvo! Daft or wot?

(*) Instead of slotting the selection into some other mode.

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by Begonia

On the subject of 'driver distraction', on my XC90 Inscription, I do feel the use of the 'Dynamic' wheel to put the car into 'Dynamic Mode' is really distracting.

1. First, the driver has to look down to find the knurled scrolling wheel and then

2. whilst looking at the Screen instead of the road ahead has to scroll the said wheel and slot the Selector Indication into 'Dynamic' (*) whilst

3. all the while, generally doing all of the above to enhance the vehicle's acceleration and performance.

Hey, Volvo! Daft or wot?

(*) Instead of slotting the selection into some other mode.

I can do it all entirely by feel and memory. It takes some time to perfect, you have to remember the sequence on the screen and then the right number of clicks but it is doable. You realise you can also click the wheel to wake up modes then touch the one you want on the screen?

[gaby]

Originally Posted by Begonia

On the subject of 'driver distraction', on my XC90 Inscription, I do feel the use of the 'Dynamic' wheel to put the car into 'Dynamic Mode' is really distracting.

1. First, the driver has to look down to find the knurled scrolling wheel and then

2. whilst looking at the Screen instead of the road ahead has to scroll the said wheel and slot the Selector Indication into 'Dynamic' (*) whilst

3. all the while, generally doing all of the above to enhance the vehicle's acceleration and performance.

Hey, Volvo! Daft or wot?

(*) Instead of slotting the selection into some other mode.

If you use Individual mode, you just have to push the scroll wheel and give
it a good spin so that it will end on the selection at the bottom of the list.

I don't find the touch screen distracting at all, I don't need it while I'm driving.
All the "primary" functions can be handled from the steering wheel or by voice.
All other things shouldn't be done while driving, either with a touch screen or
using harware buttons or switches.