Those were the days. A classic motion picture around a relationship, a car, and an open road reminds us of the love affair America has had with the automobile for over 100 years.
Being a closet “car guy”, I’m struck by the influence of technology on our modern experience with cars, roads, and other drivers.
The Good:
Computerized Engine Control Systems–this one is the biggie. Most people do not realize the increased reliability, enhanced power, enhanced fuel economy, and reduce service costs that modern engine control systems foster. Engine performance and efficiency just 30 years ago seems Neanderthal by comparison, even though the fundamental physics of the internal combustion engine has not changed. By monitoring all aspects of the combustion process and fine tuning such things as airflow, spark timing, pressure and duration of fuel injection, transmission ratios, etc., a modern powerplant can be up to three times as efficient and still put out 40% more horsepower than similar engineering efforts of the recent past. A strong evolutionary technology indeed.
Anti-lock brakes– A boon to stability and control to all but the most skilled drivers. By preventing a car from going into a brake induced skid, it enhances the driver directional control in a panic situation. Skilled drivers have always been able to reach a modicum of this ideal by keeping a cool head and not locking up the brakes, but for most, when the chips were down, so was the brake pedal, with the attendant loss of directional control. One point for technology.
Automatic climate control–love to set it once and let the system figure out what it’s doing outside. Most modern systems also use computer logic to increase the efficiency of the compressor circuit, reducing engine load and increasing gas mileage. With some notable exceptions, navigation systems have also been a help to those chronically lost in the concrete jungle.
Maybe:
Stability Control Systems–These computerized systems prevent wheelspin during acceleration or on slick surfaces, and can provide an extra measure of safety for inexperienced drivers or for all drivers in unusual weather conditions. A good thing, right? Sometimes. But not always. Skilled drivers typically use the “torque steer” available with mild wheelspin, particularly in rear-wheel drive automobiles, to ultimately control the direction the driver wants to go. SCS systems, if they’re too overzealous, not only protect from unintended wheel spin, but also from intended torque steer associated with the physics of high performance driving. If your ride has SCS, hopefully it has a “defeat” switch as well.
DVD/Blu-Ray entertainment systems–I’ve got real mixed feelings about this one. Having raised five children, there were points in long auto trips where I’d have given most anything for a system like this. In fact, I’ll admit to rigging up a portable VCR and 5 inch color set for the occasional trips over the river and through the woods to Grandma’s house when my children were younger. It gave mom and dad intermittent periods of peace and quiet on those long journeys. But I wonder if the ubiquity of these systems now in “family haulers” aren’t cheating our children of the essence of the road experience, and isolating them from the beauties of the natural world around them, not to mention opportunities for meaningful dialogue with siblings and parents. Some of my choicest conversations with my children happened in an automobile. So, while media systems have their place in family vans, using them as strong and perpetual “kiddie tranquilizer” is not a good thing.
The Bad and the Ugly:
Smart Phones–I wish I could tell you how many times in the last month I’ve observed near accidents because of inattentive, unengaged drivers. Usually, the distraction is someone trying to dial a number, someone already on the phone, or someone attempting to text while driving. This particular type of technology does not play well with driving. Most people do not realize the sheer physics of piloting a vehicle weighing 1.5 to 2.5 tons hurling through space at 50-70 miles per hour. If they did, they would put their cell phones away, not only for their sake but for the sake of everyone else on the road. As I’ve observed drivers in my area over the last several years, this is becoming a real problem, and we are all paying the price. Miss Daisy would not be pleased.
Until next time….
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