How Do These Cars Affect Novice Drivers?

When our parents were all learning to drive, they had it the hard way. They did not have any fancy gadgets or much of any aid for that matter besides their own knowledge. Are new advancements in cars preventing neophytes from gleaning auto-knowledge? It is my understanding that sixteen-year-olds will never learn to parallel park if the car is to always do it for them. If a sensor on the mirrors is always alerting them, they will never think twice about looking over their shoulder for a "double-glance". We cannot even expect them to rely on the hood cameras completely. Technology is not forever, but knowledge and information we gather is. If a technical difficulty were to occur with one of these "reliable appliances", we would only have our pure skill to make it through the glitch.

A Few Of My Favorite Things

It may seem as though I am bashing technology and its part in the making of cars, but I only criticize the ideas that seem to do more harm than good. There are many new improvements to cars that I find rather helpful. Cars today have a sensor built in to the side mirrors. This allows the driver to know if he or she is too close to a parallel car. Another addition I find most impressive is the "stay awake button". If the car senses that it is errodically drifting or anything of the sort, it will make an alarm-like noise to wake up the sleepy driver. Rather than being a distraction, these inventions provide awareness. There are also many additions to cars that we are not so aware of. Air bags have now been placed not only in the front two seats, but also on all of the side doors. This makes cars alot more safer for travel. Such inventions only provide hope that humanity has not gone completely insane.

Wrong Place at the Wrong Time

A DVD player in a car is nothing new to today's generation. Children under the age of ten have practically grown up with one hanging from the car ceiling. Yet, the auto-industry has managed to pull another fast one on society. Here is a prime example of the kinds of technology meant to distract us. PLaced directly under the pilot control panel, it appears that the driver can enjoy a "flick" every once in a while. All they have to do is take their eyes off the road long enough to get into an accident. It is much easier than it looks. These small DVD players should be placed in the back seats with the kids. There is absolutely no reason for a driver to be taking their eyes off the road. Even if the intent is to just listen to the movie, we all know that sneeking a peak every few minutes is a must. Well, it only takes the blink of an eye for a crash to occur.

Is This Necessary?

The Chrysler Town and Country is a perfect example of the germinating advances. They have, within the last few years, added tables to the insides of their new vans. The back seats are able to rotate around to face these tables. Needless to say, it is obvious that our society is growing less and less patient with each new intention brought to light. How difficult is it to wait to use a table until you get home? For generations we have survived without such luxuries, and it should be just as easy to go without it now. They really only hold appeal for those families wishing to take long vacations. Is this an unnecessary addition to cars? Is it a waste of money? If anything, it would take up more room and prove a hassle to take out and replace during any excursion.

Are Today's Cars Too Advanced?

With the futuristic advances in today's automobiles, it is easy to be caught up in the snares of new technology and its convenient perks. Are today's automobiles becoming too advanced, depriving novice drivers of auto-knowledge? We engage our lives in the pursuit of the "next best thing." Such gadgets might include MP3, auto-parallel parking, rear cameras, voice dialing, CD memorization, GPS, car sensors, multiple DVD players and even LCD screens. Will these new adaptations to cars increase the risk of distractions and accidents on the road, or make life easier? We see ourselves as the wireless age, creating new and innovative ways to simplify our lives. Yet, what do these new gadgets(designed specifically for cars) say about our intelligence, as far as putting our lives in the hands of computers and robots?