The Car Connection's Cargirl Kate McLeod wonders if drivers will accept the new active safety systems that are now appearing on luxury cars like the BMWs and Infinitis.
The systems that are featured on the 2008 BMW 5-Series and the Infiniti M45 warn the driver with a beep, flashing lights, or vibrations of the seat and steering wheel that they are drifting out of the proper lane. She notes that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is doing a study on these systems and will be announcing their results in the summer and will probably recommend them. However, the Cargirl questions whether drivers will accept them.
The system on the M45 she was driving kept beeping and she just didn't like the distraction. She predicts that most drivers are like her and will disconnect the sensors of the system so they don't have to listen to it.
In short, she doesn't like them. Our take? Well, you know what? The beeping would not be so overwhelming if she didn't drift off into the next lane. Drive the car properly and silence is the result. We say hooray for the new technology and goodbye to the lousy drivers who make these devices necessary in the first place.