Thoughts On Break Controller & Driver Alert Options?

[PMattras]

How do the people like the Driver Alert Package? I never had something like this and it seem you have to add a couple of packages to make it all work. Do you see any discounts on your insurance? I am from the old school and feel like parking assist etc. seems like a waste of money. More things to break and most likely something I would never use much. Pretty soon the younger drivers will not be able to drive their vehicle without these new options.

[gmissed]

How do the people like the Driver Alert Package? I never had something like this and it seem you have to add a couple of packages to make it all work. Do you see any discounts on your insurance? I am from the old school and feel like parking assist etc. seems like a waste of money. More things to break and most likely something I would never use much. Pretty soon the younger drivers will not be able to drive their vehicle without these new options.

I thought like you before I bought my truck. I was dead against the Driver Alert Package and I told the dealer if it had then forget about it when they were doing their search. Turns out that it's hard to find a truck in inventory without it so I relented and the truck they found had the package in it. I've come to actually like the package. As someone else mentioned it keeps you honest. If you stray over the line it tells you very gently to get back over through a vibration in the seat. I've had the collision alert come on once when I took my eyes off the road for a split second too long and a driver cut me off. The collision alert shows up on your windshield as 6 red dots and the seat vibrates as well if you get too close to a vehicle in front of you. So yes, I like it and perhaps one day will save me from an incident.

[SB09]

My salesman found a GM harness for aftermarket brake controllers. It plugs directly into the electrical box under the dash, almost behind the emergency brake. You then connect the bare wires to the aftermarket controller wiring and you're good to go. No modification to the trucks wiring. If I need to remove it I just have to unplug that connector and it's out. I found my receipt that shows the part number for the harness if anyone needs it.

[SB09]

EDIT: Double post

[lsorah0001]

GM has come out with a harness that directly plugs in for an aftermarket controller. I read somewhere on the forums that if you've already purchased a truck, you can get it for free. I got mine from the dealership a couple days ago. No cost...I'll try to find that post and part number.

 

Edit: Found it.

 

An After-Market Trailer Brake Controller Jumper harness for the New

2014 1500 series pick-up trucks is now available. This ready to use

harness (P/N 23184088) can be obtained at your area GM Parts

Department. If you need more information please let us know via our

Contact Us page.

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/153111-2014-sierra-aftermarket-brake-controller-help/page-6

Post #87

 

[Mutau95]

I use the arming assist and driver alert all the time. It still amazes me how this truck is able to tell when i'm going out of my lane. In only 3 months of ownership the collision alert and driver alert have paid for themselves. It only take a second as you are surveying your surrounding for you to veer slightly to the right or left. I frequently have to park in various parking decks for work and the parking assist reduces that effort although my truck is a crew cab with short box Im able to park with ease. Ive had trucks without park assist and will say that parking with rearview camera and sensors both front and back makes life so much better.

[Dnt]

How do the people like the Driver Alert Package? I never had something like this and it seem you have to add a couple of packages to make it all work. Do you see any discounts on your insurance? I am from the old school and feel like parking assist etc. seems like a waste of money. More things to break and most likely something I would never use much. Pretty soon the younger drivers will not be able to drive their vehicle without these new options.

If you get a chance watch the movie about airline flight 447 that crashed in 2009. The 3 pilots all had thousands of hours of experience but when the auto pilot kicked off because the air speed sensors failed they did not know how to really fly a plane and crashed into the ocean and killed all 228 passengers and themselves. Technology is great when it works but you better still know HOW TO DRIVE that puppy.

 

[Dnt]

delete-

 

[TxTruckMan]

It's a truck - the brake controller should be standard - at the very least on trailering equiped vehicles. I don't tow, but I still ordered it because every truck should have one. The next owner may use it.

 

And I also ordered the Driver Alert package. If it saves your butt one time, it's paid for itself. If you think you're a perfect driver and NEVER divert your attention from the road, you're wrong. Driver Alert doesn't drive, steer, or do aything for you except alert you of a pending problem. It's up to you to react.

[PMattras]

I use the arming assist and driver alert all the time. It still amazes me how this truck is able to tell when i'm going out of my lane. In only 3 months of ownership the collision alert and driver alert have paid for themselves. It only take a second as you are surveying your surrounding for you to veer slightly to the right or left. I frequently have to park in various parking decks for work and the parking assist reduces that effort although my truck is a crew cab with short box Im able to park with ease. Ive had trucks without park assist and will say that parking with rearview camera and sensors both front and back makes life so much better.

In three months of ownership the collision alert and drive alert have paid for themselves.

 

What did you do prior to these safety devices to prevent accidents and what are you doing with these items to set them off? I don't know what you are doing (less careful - depending more on these devices, bad driving habits etc.) to make it more important since you just got these safety items. Why is there a big change in your driving to make it worth while? These devices can cause bad driving habits. Commercial pilots have to learn to fly planes without GPS.

 

On business I use to travel about 35,000 miles a year in cities such as New York City etc. I had to park at least once to three times a week (without any parking assistance) in very tight areas between vehicles. The more you do the better you get. I would be a person that would find it very hard to turn it over to a computer. The hardest thing flight pilots had is when in automatic mode was not to handle the controls and let it do it thing. If you don't do this in manual mode, I feel the next generation will have a very difficult driving if they have problems.

 

One time I was very tired driving home and I must have fell asleep for a second. The cuts in the road near the guard rails woke me up - the noise from these cuts (made to do it) saved me from getting into an accident. I can see the driver alert for this issue, and slowing and illegal parked cars on the roads. Very long distance driving. I do see a good need for it but I also see where people will be less careful and throw more caution to the wind.

 

I guess it might take me more time on these devices.

 

Do you get a discount on you auto insurance with these new devices?

[Dnt]

I get a slight overall discount along with you and everyone else for the manufacturers producing better safer products. My auto insurance comapny does not have a specific line item discount fo that particular package. (Farmers) they do like the antitheft packages.

[Mutau95]

In three months of ownership the collision alert and drive alert have paid for themselves.

 

What did you do prior to these safety devices to prevent accidents and what are you doing with these items to set them off? I don't know what you are doing (less careful - depending more on these devices, bad driving habits etc.) to make it more important since you just got these safety items. Why is there a big change in your driving to make it worth while? These devices can cause bad driving habits. Commercial pilots have to learn to fly planes without GPS.

 

On business I use to travel about 35,000 miles a year in cities such as New York City etc. I had to park at least once to three times a week (without any parking assistance) in very tight areas between vehicles. The more you do the better you get. I would be a person that would find it very hard to turn it over to a computer. The hardest thing flight pilots had is when in automatic mode was not to handle the controls and let it do it thing. If you don't do this in manual mode, I feel the next generation will have a very difficult driving if they have problems.

 

One time I was very tired driving home and I must have fell asleep for a second. The cuts in the road near the guard rails woke me up - the noise from these cuts (made to do it) saved me from getting into an accident. I can see the driver alert for this issue, and slowing and illegal parked cars on the roads. Very long distance driving. I do see a good need for it but I also see where people will be less careful and throw more caution to the wind.

 

I guess it might take me more time on these devices.

 

Do you get a discount on you auto insurance with these new devices?

I too drive 1800 to 2000 miles per month for work but fortunately not in NYC and Im in tight decks often. Face it a full-size crew cab is not a malibu and requires more space and time to park. The safety features on the 2014 are assistive devices... sure you can drive without them but technology is available to help. You could check you tires manually with a gauge but you have a nice handy feature called TPMS. You could gradually apply brakes instead of ABS but ABS is a great feature. I have been driving over 25 years with an excellent driving record so sure I could do without them but they are great IMO. If you don't want them or need them then don't buy them. In rainy conditions at night with blinding headlights coming at you its nice to get a seat vibration to know that you are close to the white or yellow line. BTW this occurs well before you would hit the normal highway cutout alerts. Parking is a breeze but if I can avoid scratching/denting my 50K truck with technological advances to assist me then all the better. I think you are confusing these features with handicapping the driver versus assisting the driver as intended.

 

Im not sure if I get a discount on my insurance but if technology can reduce parking lot fender benders, rearend accidents, and other driver errors its a good thing. Since insurance rates are based on claims then hopefully these devices can save all of us money including the next generation.

[TxTruckMan]

With the new, more stringent crash test rating system, these safety features are required to get 5 stars. Actual crash test data will only get you a max of 4 stars. Better safety rating usually results in better insurance premiums.

[PMD G8]

I have been keeping the driver alert off, kind of aggravating on 2 lane country roads going 45mph. However i think it will come in handy when taking long trips on 4 lane roads.