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Biggest Spike in Traffic Deaths in 50 Years? Blame Apps

nytimes.com

131–140 of 255 posts

Re: Biggest Spike in Traffic Deaths in 50 Years? Blame Apps

#131
post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

'make licensing more strict' is basically going to bring the standard up to the level of machines anyway... every time there is an accident, lawmakers will create ' s law', which tightens the requirements a bit further. Sadly, I also predict that this is the only mechanism by which requirements will be tightened.

> Sadly, I also predict that this is the only mechanism by which requirements will be tightened. Not going to happen. If this were so, Interlock Ignition Devices (Breathalyzers) would come standard on all new cars and be a requirement on used ones. Also, we already have a law against speed limits, but even a cheap, shitty Toyota Yaris can go faster than the highest posted speed limit. There's a large swath of the pop…

Not really, because exactly that: car=freedom. That will continue to be true, but it will not be 'drivers license = freedom'. People who lose their license will need to use a self-driving car.

Re: Biggest Spike in Traffic Deaths in 50 Years? Blame Apps

#132
post #84
post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

'make licensing more strict' is basically going to bring the standard up to the level of machines anyway... every time there is an accident, lawmakers will create ' s law', which tightens the requirements a bit further. Sadly, I also predict that this is the only mechanism by which requirements will be tightened.

There are already laws covering most accident scenarios and people violate them and get into wrecks. If Sally runs a red light and smashes into Bob and kills him, what exactly do you think "Bob's law" would entail? It's already illegal to run red lights.

For example, the new law could say that getting a ticket for running a red light would result in revocation of your license. As opposed to just a monetary fine / points like typically awarded now.

Re: Biggest Spike in Traffic Deaths in 50 Years? Blame Apps

#133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't that the point of the rating system? I don't want to be killed by my next Uber ride because you feel bad rating them appropriately. I've never had a bad Uber experience but I have had some downright frightening cab rides and I'd love to be able to rate that.

Yes, except it's not really a fair system. A 4.5/5.0, to me, is an excellent score. That's an A- if it were a grade on a math test. Yet in Uber, a 4.5 means you get your driving privileges revoked. How does that make sense? It isn't a system in which I can fairly and accurately vote someone's work.

I feel the same happens with Airbnb. All ratings are between 4.5 and 5. I think people feel that they have to give good ratings as they feel the 'know' the host and want to be kind. As a result the ratings are kinda useless. I try to be honest, but don't like to be the outlier either...

Re: Biggest Spike in Traffic Deaths in 50 Years? Blame Apps

#134
post #53
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In all fairness, the 65-70 mph posted on most rural interstates is usually an uneventfully featureless speed, on uneventful, featureless roads. Meanwhile the urban grandfathered interstates are like NASCAR with a concrete wall to one side, and ruthless traffic inches to your side. And even sometimes on a suburban parkway signed for 45, with four lanes going the same way, you fear for your life as SUVs heading home fr…

> 65-70 mph posted on most rural interstates is usually an uneventfully featureless speed, on uneventful, featureless roads This is true. 95% of the time, it would be just as safe to be cruising at 90 mph. But for those other 5% where there's an unexpected tire in the middle of the road, a deer, a driver who swerved into your lane or any other danger... a few extra milliseconds to react and respond is what makes the…

I'd say more like 99.99% of the time, which is the problem. There's very rarely an unexpected obstacle.

Also, with a closing speed of 0, a driver swerving into your lane happens no more quickly at 90mph than at 50. (assuming they use correspondingly less steering input so the lateral speed remains the same).

But yeah, overall I agree with you. I kind of think every new driver should be forced to drive a Geo Metro or a Miata or something for the first couple of years. (as a former Miata owner, motorcyclist, and stick shift driver).

Re: Biggest Spike in Traffic Deaths in 50 Years? Blame Apps

#135
post #53
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In all fairness, the 65-70 mph posted on most rural interstates is usually an uneventfully featureless speed, on uneventful, featureless roads. Meanwhile the urban grandfathered interstates are like NASCAR with a concrete wall to one side, and ruthless traffic inches to your side. And even sometimes on a suburban parkway signed for 45, with four lanes going the same way, you fear for your life as SUVs heading home fr…

> 65-70 mph posted on most rural interstates is usually an uneventfully featureless speed, on uneventful, featureless roads This is true. 95% of the time, it would be just as safe to be cruising at 90 mph. But for those other 5% where there's an unexpected tire in the middle of the road, a deer, a driver who swerved into your lane or any other danger... a few extra milliseconds to react and respond is what makes the…

A manual car is only engaging below 50mph, above that you're in highest gear anyway. Any once you learn it, it becomes second nature and you don't really engage anymore, because it just happens as you drive.

Re: Biggest Spike in Traffic Deaths in 50 Years? Blame Apps

#136
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

if anything goes wrong, Volvo accepts full responsibility Nice comfort I'm sure as you lie in your casket.

There's an old saying "Put your money where your mouth is". I think the idea of mentioning it is that it is a comfort as you hand control of the car over to the automated system.

If only Volvo wasn't as expensive, or boring to drive.

Re: Biggest Spike in Traffic Deaths in 50 Years? Blame Apps

#137

The UK, Germany and Austria have banned the use of phones in cars entirely with a whitelist of permitted uses (like passively using it for navigation). I am pretty sure that is something that is happening all over Europe now.

Welp, shit, just got back from breaking that particular law in Germany.

Better late than never, I guess.

Re: Biggest Spike in Traffic Deaths in 50 Years? Blame Apps

#138
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mythbusters tested it! http://news.stanford.edu/thedish/2015/08/21/mythbusters-test... and https://youtu.be/t8LuM92Twm8?t=210 (see the conclusion at 3:28). Result: Driving drunk, with a cellphone or with a hands-free phone were all equally dangerous. I'm as surprised as you must be. They didn't test talking to a passenger, but I'm of the opinion that laws don't forbid what is de-facto considered as normal by most peo…

Result: Driving drunk, with a cellphone or with a hands-free phone were all equally dangerous. Also driving while short on sleep. IIRC it's something like ~20 hours awake approximately matches .08 BAC, not sure offhand how chronic sleep deprivation (like most adults have) factors in. (My conclusion from all this is that alcohol should not be treated as a special case: if you can't drive safely, proving that it must b…

In Denmark you can legally drive with under 0.05 BAC. If you're involved in any accidents, you automatically get some blame, even if you wouldn't had you had 0 BAC. It's equvivalent to saying: "You can drive home if you've had one beer, but you ought to drive cautiously".

Re: Biggest Spike in Traffic Deaths in 50 Years? Blame Apps

#139
post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Statistics and data are a means, not an end. Narratives and conclusions must be made by people. That said, I agree a little more data wouldn't hurt.

That's the problem. I don't want my news to be narratives and conclusions.

News isn't experimental data.
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