"Leave the driving to us"

[zrath]

This was posted on a friend's LJ in reply to one of those "World Of Tomorrow" articles.
This particular article was "Life In The Year 2008" and was written in 1968.
I had a sort of epiphany...


I think I have gained an insight into why Americans don't seem to take driving seriously.
All these World Of Tomorrow articles always emphasize the automated highways and robot cars.
Americans don't want to drive, they just want to push a few buttons to program the car, then goof off playing poker or something.
Nowadays, they'd be talking or texting on their cellphones like mad, or surfing the Internet on their laptops.
I am aware that some people already do that.
Europeans are more involved in their driving. Driving education is tougher and more expensive.

I think distances also plays a factor. America is a big country, full of straight lines and gentle curves.
Europe is small and twisty and requires more driving acumen.

I am not ready to surrender my car to a robot.
I like being in control.


I can sort of see the appeal of computer highways and robot cars. It would cut down on the amount of idiots who
cut me off, throw themselves at me and my lil' truck, or just plain do absolutely some of the stupidest crap ever.
But I bet you the idiots who still find some way to screw things up.

You can pry the steering wheel from my cold dead hands! :D

Comments

[duntov-475hp.livejournal.com]

I would be SO BORED if robots took over our cars. I mean, nothing is more entertaining to me than slammin' gears and runnin' amok going where I wanna go how I wanna go as fast as I wanna go.
What's odd is my 425 horsepower Camaro, I drive like a little ol' man. Get me in my 190 horsepower Grand Am... I am agressive... gimme my old 1988 Dodge Omni and I' a friggin' lunatic.

[zeeth_kyrah]

Perceived value vs speed-safety comfort factors. The more valuable the car in the driver's eyes, the slower and more careful the driver will go: don't wanna scratch my beautiful precious, but that old junker I'll slam around the road until it don't go no more.

[duntov-475hp.livejournal.com]

Exactly, I worry more about my car than I do myself. "A scratch on my skin will heal, but a scratch on the paint is expensive"
Besides, it's good to have the hot rod with the good rep with the police. They know I'll behave, so they don't suspect me as a bad person. Lot of guys in hot rods are pegged as street racers, it helps keep me out of trouble. That old puddlejumper of mine even driving like a maniac didn't seem to LOOK like I was driving like a maniac, just sort of a doggy little ride.