The modern car
I’ll readily admit that I sometimes long for the simplicity of “yesteryear” when it comes to automobiles. They did make use of basic electricity, but computers and associated electronic sensors were absent. Everything was quite rudimentary when compared to today’s vehicles — do-it-yourselfers even had a chance of diagnosing problems and making repairs! When I get in a pre-’66 classic, I even find it to be somewhat of a relief that there are no seat belts to mess with.
After a few minutes in that classic, however, I begin feeling less secure. That’s because I know that the single most life saving accessory on a vehicle is the three-point lap and shoulder belt, and I’m used to having it on when driving or riding in a vehicle.
What I’m getting at is that while the old cars were refreshingly simple, we should be thankful for the safety, dependability and comfort of the modern car.
And their advantages are escalating rapidly. Attributable to antilock brakes, air bags, traction control, stability control, “crumple zone” body design, and seat belt compliance alone, annual vehicle-related death tolls have been taking a nose dive. While still a high number, the annual tally has dropped by roughly 10,000 since 2005. New driver-assist features, like lane departure warnings, are expected to effect a further reduction.
Before that, the average number of annual traffic deaths hovered at 43,000 to 45,000. With that number currently at around 33,000 annual deaths, the improvement is noteworthy yet still unacceptable, representing nearly 100 daily motor vehicle deaths.
While many automotive innovations are aimed at safety, others play a role in ease of operation, comfort and dependability.
A letter from K.J. reminded me of the continuous improvements placed into the cars and trucks we drive. In response to one of my stated pet peeves, namely drivers who exhibit varying vehicle speed, she wrote, “I have an answer (and a defense) for the folks slowing down on an upgrade and speeding up on a downgrade- they have their cruise control on, and this is exactly how it works on hills- it seems to ‘lose control.’ Better to use it on a flat surface.”
Her answer may be one reason for varying speed, but I don’t consider it to be a viable “defense.”
I understand that older or poorly engineered cruise control mechanisms lose and gain speed on hills. But any driver experiencing such mechanical shortcomings still has the ability to add a bit of throttle for uphills and use some brake for downhills. Though a given cruise control may be deficient at maintaining constant speed, it’s still a driver’s responsibility to do so.
Also, a variance of 1-2 mph is common for many cruise controls, but I am complaining about mph swings of 5 mph or more. And, cruise control should actually be shut off where grades become steep or multiple curves are encountered anyway.
With all of that stated, the cruise control on my last several vehicles remains rock steady on inclines, even automatically shifting to a lower gear to maintain the set speed going downhill. So, I would surmise, engineering of cruise control systems has been well-honed over the last several years, and the result makes it easier for drivers to maintain exact and steady speeds.
It’s true that modern vehicle electronics can let us down. Often, the failure of one sensor or module can stop you suddenly “in your tracks.” When a fuel pump actuator, for example, fails, you won’t go anywhere, and you won’t be able to diagnose it, bypass it, or “limp” your way home.
But, all things considered, the dependability of modern vehicle systems and componentry exceeds that of anything we’ve had in the past. Highway breakdowns I see on road trips are generally tire-related. Many modern running vehicles with six-digit odometers (another improvement) show over 300,000 miles these days!
Convenience and comfort items have advanced with regularity. Features like power door locks and air conditioning have become standard items, and options like heated/cooled seats have brought driver comfort to previously unattainable levels.
Appreciate your modern car — it’s designed to keep you safe and comfortable while making the driving task easy.
Readers may contact Bill Love via email at precisiondriving@spokesman.com.
