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Congratulations, Mini, you made the stupidest turn signals ever

jalopnik.com

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Re: Congratulations, Mini, you made the stupidest turn signals ever

#151

Post by bdamm »

soneil wrote: post #117
sbarre wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish it was more standard where I live (Canada)..

I'm actually not a fan of it. Granted I've mostly driven older cars, without the wonders of ABS etc - but most situations that require heavy, unplanned breaking for me, are also times I really should have two hands on the wheel. I'm not fundamentally opposed - systems that do it automatically sound like a fantastic compromise. I just think if it's dangerous enough that I feel other drivers need more warning than norm…

First, do what you need to get the car under control.

Then, switch on the hazards so the driver behind you gets a heads up. Obviously you don’t risk crashing fumbling for the hazards.

Particularly useful on rural roads with many turns where the slowdown really might be surprising, or on off ramps where the car behind you might not have arrived yet.

Re: Congratulations, Mini, you made the stupidest turn signals ever

#152

Post by zo1 »

soneil wrote: post #117
sbarre wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish it was more standard where I live (Canada)..

I'm actually not a fan of it. Granted I've mostly driven older cars, without the wonders of ABS etc - but most situations that require heavy, unplanned breaking for me, are also times I really should have two hands on the wheel. I'm not fundamentally opposed - systems that do it automatically sound like a fantastic compromise. I just think if it's dangerous enough that I feel other drivers need more warning than norm…

Usually there is a buffer where you've noticed a hazard in front and are braking in time. But then your next focus is on what is behind you. Did they notice you braking hard, are the about to hit into you, do you need to move over for them, etc. Hazards just add a bit more warning that red brake lights, because they're so common, can't convey.

Re: Congratulations, Mini, you made the stupidest turn signals ever

#154

Post by lightdot »

soneil wrote: post #117
sbarre wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish it was more standard where I live (Canada)..

I'm actually not a fan of it. Granted I've mostly driven older cars, without the wonders of ABS etc - but most situations that require heavy, unplanned breaking for me, are also times I really should have two hands on the wheel. I'm not fundamentally opposed - systems that do it automatically sound like a fantastic compromise. I just think if it's dangerous enough that I feel other drivers need more warning than norm…

It's done afterwards, once you've safely reduced the speed of your vehicle, not during the initial emergency braking.

It's basically a heads up for all the vehicles far behind you that haven't yet noticed a sudden change in the flow of the traffic. Gives them more time to reduce speed without haste.

Re: Congratulations, Mini, you made the stupidest turn signals ever

#156

Post by siva7 »

GhostVII wrote: post #133
malyk wrote: post #11

So the left turn signal is an arrow pointing to the right? And the right turn signal is an arrow pointing to the left? How does that pass, well, anything at all without someone saying “that might not be the best idea”!

They probably designed the car with Europe regulations in mind first, and then rather than try and design an entirely new brake light for the US just took the lazy/cheap way and lit up the other two available light bars.

I wonder what kind of company culture exists at mini that no one had the power to step und say that this might be not a good idea

Re: Congratulations, Mini, you made the stupidest turn signals ever

#157

Post by dorkwood »

To me, this sends another signal. One that says "don't work at Mini".

If something like this is able to make it all the way through design, production and testing -- with no one raising a red flag along the way -- what other less visible but equally bone-headed ideas are making it into their cars?

Re: Congratulations, Mini, you made the stupidest turn signals ever

#158

Post by LeifCarrotson »

snthd wrote: post #113

Presumably the original amber lights are too small to be legal. Changing the LED colour is the smallest possible localisation. https://www.acarplace.com/2018/01/index/ >Stylists don’t deserve all the blame. In America, the brake light and rear turn signal must each have a lit lens area of at least 50 cm2 (7¾ in2). The American regulation calls this lit lens area “EPLLA” for Effective Projected Luminous Lens Area. Thi…

There's plenty of room, the Mini is 56" high and 68" wide. There's space for two lights each smaller than a soda can.

The stylists and sales targets have more weight than safety-minded regulators or consumers, so the stylists can veto any changes that add a color like yellow or increase the size of the lights.

Re: Congratulations, Mini, you made the stupidest turn signals ever

#159

Post by Veen »

argomo wrote: post #54

> there should be no trouble at all for a driver to understand, when seeing the full rear of the car, which direction is being indicated. This response from Mini presumes drivers have the luxury of using "system 2" logical/analytical reasoning in a hectic realtime environment where they must most rely on "system 1" intuitive reasoning. There needs to be a name for this type design fallacy, because it's not the first…

The article's writer agrees with Mini. After several hundred words of mockery they conclude with: "I don’t actually think the design is going to really confuse people...I don’t really think these are actually hurting anyone."

Re: Congratulations, Mini, you made the stupidest turn signals ever

#160

Post by H8crilA »

dorkwood wrote: post #157

To me, this sends another signal. One that says "don't work at Mini". If something like this is able to make it all the way through design, production and testing -- with no one raising a red flag along the way -- what other less visible but equally bone-headed ideas are making it into their cars?

You have a point, but it's not that clear cut. Large corporations are quite non-uniform and decision making is sometimes random. For example, remember YouTube Red? A quite boneheaded decision, yet I'm told there are many many good areas to work in at Google.
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