Legal Ramifications of Vehicle Safety Systems

Some safety features, like ABS, I agree with. Others, like the new blind spot intruder alert, is just dumb. What's next, an alert that tells you it's safe to text? IMHO, the human should always be responsible.

Ah this will get fun fast

I absolutely love ABS, on the road. Umm, paved roads.

Gravel roads it will kill you. Off road it is a positive hazard.

Like most safety devices.

I personally wired an off switch to my ABS.

Because I am a control freak about my car and ...control.

So I don't mind technology, even early deployment, because I never trust it ...completely.

But did you know it is a violation of Federal law (in the US) to disable an airbag?

This neurotic compulsion with "safety" is going to get us all killed. We now have so many systems that people have forgotten that they actually have to operate the motor vehicle. 4-wheel drive convinces people that they can drive 70 mph in a snow storm. They forget we always had 4-wheel brakes. Antilock brakes that won't let you stop when you need to. 8,000 pound behemoths that lull people into the sense that 'If I hit something I'll be OK". Forget about the other guy you just crushed. Air bags that decapitate you in a 10 mph rear-ender. The list goes on ad nauseum.

...who was responsible for HAL in "SPACE ODYSSEY--2001"?