[PerfAdv]

THE VERDICT

After four hours of driving, our volunteers were surprised at just how much they relied on modern safety systems and certainly left Crowthorne with no desire to return to the good old days of 1990.

Even allowing for the fact that the BMW’s technology was 15 years out of date Griffiths was shocked by our drivers’ lack of safety awareness. “This just goes to show that the boffins can come up with new safety ideas and the marketing men can sell them to buyers but the truth is that most drivers don’t understand them or how to drive to make the most of them,” he said.

“This test also showed how far car design has come. Modern cars not only have stability and traction control, they also have better tyres, better suspension and overall dynamics. Technology has moved on and drivers have been left behind.”

I don't get the verdict. In an effort to make a point that I thought they were making from the examples, the article ends by saying the opposite. The ABS test showed that drivers of modern cars are relying on it. The slalom run showed that cars equipped with traction control and ESP were easily able to navigate it. The drivers only had problems when they tried it in the '90 BMW, showing they do know how to use the modern tech.

I think, the blame the marketing men for everything mindset is difficult to shake off, another affliction of modern times...

Basically, electronic aids take part of the responsibility off of the driver. So, the driver needs to understand that just because he has some safety equipment doesn't mean he can disregard logic. Example: if you're approaching a left-hand sweeper in the rain and your car is equipped with ESP, and you figure that ESP will brake the appropriate wheel, cut power to engine, and slow the car enough to get through. If the speed is within reason that's what will happen but go in too fast and ESP won't alter the laws of physics.

** proper usage of ABS in emergency stop: stand on the brake pedal.