# Smart cars and dumbass consumers **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 30, 2012, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cars-and-dumbass-consumers/636293 "2012-09-30T07:27:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cars-and-dumbass-consumers/636293/61 "2012-10-01T20:28:58Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > In light of the known dangers of “distracted driving” (texting, cellphone use etc.), it bothers me that automakers are cramming their cars with more and more shit that will divert dumbass drivers attention from actually driving the vehicle safely. I can understand that there are probably some GPS devices that are badly designed and can be distracting. But I think overall that GPSs probably decrease distracted driving and keep more drivers focused on driving. I didn’t have a GPS the first year I lived in Houston, and would often have to be looking around for street names or building numbers while driving. And the signs aren’t always easy to see. Sometimes I would have Google map directions printed out, and I’d try only to glance at them when traffic was stopped, but I’ll admit I would sometimes look back and forth at them while driving. I fortunately was never in an accident, but I was definitely looking away from the road more than I should have. Now with a GPS, I will be looking back and forth at the GPS, but I have my eyes on the road a lot more and am a lot less distracted. I would much rather have people slightly distracted by a GPS, rather than majorly distracted by folded maps, written or printed directions, or looking around for street signs and building numbers. > [@suranyi](#): > > The best thing about GPS, IMO, is that it will recalculate your route if you make a wrong turn or decide to take a little detour. Before GPS those created really awkward situations, especially the former. Even if one figured out a route very carefully on a paper map, if a wrong turn was made somewhere it was easy to get totally lost. That is huge. Before I had my GPS, I could pretty much get around in Houston. I would look up directions on my computer before I left home and make sure I understood what roads and exits I needed to take. I would also often print out the Google directions. But several times I would miss the exit because of construction, or traffic preventing me from getting over, or just confusion because there were several exits all together and I wasn’t sure which one was mine. I could figure it out eventually, but having a GPS that automatically recalculates now saves me so much time of wandering around before pulling over and consulting a map and then wandering around some more. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cars-and-dumbass-consumers/636293/62 "2012-10-01T20:44:57Z")
> [@Kenm](#): > > Cars are commodities now. I’m surprised they aren’t sold in blister packs dangling from upside-down spikes from particle boards in Walmart. They tried selling cars at Walmart. They could only roll backward. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cars-and-dumbass-consumers/636293/63 "2012-10-01T20:56:56Z")
> [@Kenm](#): > > Cars are commodities now. I’m surprised they aren’t sold in blister packs dangling from upside-down spikes from particle boards in Walmart. And this would be a bad thing? I hate dealing with pushy salesmen. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cars-and-dumbass-consumers/636293/64 "2012-10-02T03:43:25Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > In light of the known dangers of “distracted driving” (texting, cellphone use etc.), it bothers me that automakers are cramming their cars with more and more shit that will divert dumbass drivers attention from actually driving the vehicle safely. Considering we are only a few years away from production cars that drive themselves…its gonna look like the CIC of an aircraft carrier pretty soon 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cars-and-dumbass-consumers/636293/65 "2012-10-02T03:52:35Z")
I’m looking forward to planning airstrikes on the other cars. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cars-and-dumbass-consumers/636293/66 "2012-10-02T12:19:22Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > Considering we are only a few years away from production cars that drive themselves… Do we at least get to pick where they go? ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cars-and-dumbass-consumers/636293/67 "2012-10-02T12:54:02Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > I found that out quickly when I test-drove a Prius recently. In the center of the dash was an LCD screen with so much flashing and animation, it looked like a “YOU ARE THE ONE MILLIONTH VISITOR!!!” website banner ad. I wanted the fucking thing OFF. I read that F-4 Phantoms in the '60’s had all sorts of verbal notices for the pilots, but when the heat was on, the first thing the pilots did was turn all that shit off, it was just too distracting. All he wanted to know was how to get where he was supposed to go, how to go home, and whether a missle was hurtling toward him. I admit that driving I-275 in downtown Tampa during rush hour isn’t quite the same, but like the pilot, I’m also trying to avoid a flaming death, and most of the fancy features of an inboard touch screen are just too damned distracting. ETA: But you’ll never pry my Garmin from from me. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cars-and-dumbass-consumers/636293/68 "2012-10-02T12:59:21Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > Do we at least get to pick where they go? No…there will be a central control computer that knows when you need to go to work and when you need to buy bread, and will take you wherever you should be. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cars-and-dumbass-consumers/636293/69 "2012-10-02T14:00:41Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > In light of the known dangers of “distracted driving” (texting, cellphone use etc.), it bothers me that automakers are cramming their cars with more and more shit that will divert dumbass drivers attention from actually driving the vehicle safely. any control function in a car that can’t be operated by feel is a hazard. ---
**Author:** ![Oliveritaly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oliveritaly/32/15233_2.png) [@Oliveritaly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oliveritaly)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cars-and-dumbass-consumers/636293/70 "2012-10-02T17:23:09Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Drunk as a skunk! Oh yeah, take it from me. A funny drunk, if a bit grumpy, but drunk none the less. Made me laugh. Drive trains damn it, DRIVE TRAINS! ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cars-and-dumbass-consumers/636293/71 "2012-10-03T15:17:32Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > No…there will be a central control computer that knows when you need to go to work and when you need to buy bread, and will take you wherever you should be. The computer is your friend, thinking anything else is treason. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cars-and-dumbass-consumers/636293/72 "2012-10-03T15:39:32Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Did we settle whether or not **Klaatu** was drunk or not? Drunk enough to be kept away from cars…and from having any humility about making an ass of themself in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cars-and-dumbass-consumers/636293/73 "2012-10-03T15:43:52Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I’m looking forward to planning airstrikes on the other cars. But what if they’re no-driver and otherwise-empty battle wagons loaded with no weapons except barrels of nitroglycerine over the space-saving spare? ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cars-and-dumbass-consumers/636293/74 "2012-10-03T15:49:44Z")
> [@Kenm](#): > > Cars are commodities now. I’m surprised they aren’t sold in blister packs dangling from upside-down spikes from particle boards in Walmart. [**Great horny toads! The SOBs stole my idea!**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15547921&postcount=1) ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cars-and-dumbass-consumers/636293/75 "2012-10-03T20:10:57Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > But Klaatu, what about a new feature in a smart car that reports all of the “unskewed” polls showing Romney winning by a landslide!? > > Seems like it would be right up your alley. > [@Klaatu](#): > > So you thought you would be clever by just throwing that in? Dumbass! > [@Klaatu](#): > > Drew sounds like you are a little scared considering how you jumped in there. We shall see > [@Klaatu](#): > > Damn and you are from Houston? Wow, I grew up near Galveston. And you are a liberal? Wow. Oil City. Drill baby drill..Houston couldn’t have changed that much… And that, boys and girls, is what we call _l’esprit de l’escalier_. Got any more of them, **Klaatu**? C’mon, the trail isn’t _that_ cold… ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cars-and-dumbass-consumers/636293/76 "2012-10-03T20:38:21Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > They tried selling cars at Walmart. They could only roll backward. That wasn’t my experience. My experience was that as soon as I crossed the yellow line in the parking lot, the right front wheel locked up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smart-cars-and-dumbass-consumers/636293.md?page=3)