Lane Keep Assist Steering Intervention explained

[Retired Bob]

http://sandyblogs.com/techlink/?p=6674

 

Good explanation of how the GM system works - includes a video demo.

[montyss]

That was some good reading explaning how it all works

[Silvern Sentry]

still not sure some of this simple technology makes the roads any safer, almost feels like a dumbing down of basic driving skills. Back in my day if the lanes were clearly marked or even of they were faded lines you used your forward facing eyes to detect if you were drifting and then your brain would send a signal to your nervous system telling your hards to correct your steering.

 

Also most roads in BC have rumble strips that works with all makes and models and even older cars too as long as it has tires.

 

IMO if you need lane assist warning and cannot live without it I think the real problem is between the seat and the steering wheel.

[MikeNH]

Pretty much. I find these assist things fascinating from a tech standpoint but I'd never want them. I'm capable of driving. If they want to make the roads safer they need to increase the punishment for distracted driving. Or ideally, people could just stop being idiots.

[redwngr]

The beauty of lane keep assist is if a driver is as good as they think they are then it will never need to 'nudge' them back.

[MikeNH]

The beauty of lane keep assist is if a driver is as good as they think they are then it will never need to 'nudge' them back.

 

 

True. But the idiots will use it as another nanny to help them continue to drive poorly.

[Silvern Sentry]

 

 

True. But the idiots will use it as another nanny to help them continue to drive poorly.

 

Agreed I am worried about the person who thinks 'meh I can look away for 5 seconds car will beep at me if i need'.

[MikeNH]

 

Agreed I am worried about the person who thinks 'meh I can look away for 5 seconds car will beep at me if i need'.

 

 

That's what has killed a few Tesla owners.

[Thomcat]

Had to get that crap in our new Malibu because it was packaged with the 2.0 turbo w/8 speed which to my amazement does the same 0-60 as my '15 3.6 V6 Camaro and is a lot more comfortable too.

 

Best are the bind spot indicators in the mirrors and rear cross traffic alert as good reminders, but not a dependable substitute for stretching your neck for a look.

 

The collision alert is great for tailgaiters......didn't know if it even worked because I wasn't stupid enough to dare approach fast and close enough to a stopped vehicle test it.....unfortunately some moron tested it for me......it actually prevented me from getting clipped when a car from the left lane cut me off at 70 mph to get to an exit on the right....it applied the brakes instantly and slowed my vehicle faster than I could have hit the brake, all while scaring the $hit out of me with a loud sound and a flashing heads-up indicator projected onto the windshield.

 

The pedestrian indicator functions well and detects joggers and deer (only if they are moving!) at the roadside, especially in low light conditions; hopefully I'll never find out if the auto-braking similarly works if either runs directly in the path of the vehicle.

 

The lane assist gives nice gentle nudge back to center if you toe the line but more effective as a reminder to use the turn signal before crossing the line. Cute, but definitely not something to rely upon for anything because even with clearly marked lanes it does turn off intermittently.

 

Adaptive cruise control is probably the only practical feature that will automatically adjust the set speed to keep timing pace with "dead-footer" going up a hill.

 

All this crap is not worth the cost and certainly no substitute for those who regularly use good driving habits. Nor is this technology practical or safe to use in "driverless cars" because it is not reliable given the current condition of roadways and driving conditions in the US. It may work fine on pristine streets and weather conditions in Silicon Valley, but on uneven road markings, wet streets, potholes, camera blinding snow and dust, etc. it is no substitute for eyes, a human brain and good driving habits.

[Andy Seibel]

Back in my day, I learned how to use the brakes on snow covered roads too. Now the ABS doesn't let me stop the way I want to.

 

All of this crap to help idiots makes it harder to actually DRIVE the car and makes for expensive repairs when the electronics fail.

[Thomcat]

Back in my day, I learned how to use the brakes on snow covered roads too. Now the ABS doesn't let me stop the way I want to.

 

All of this crap to help idiots makes it harder to actually DRIVE the car and makes for expensive repairs when the electronics fail.

My .02

 

Yes and No.

 

Yes, It modern features certainly help to put people on the road who "back in the day" wouldn't have the physical and/or mental capability/coordination to pass the driving test for a license, much less operate a vehicle.

 

No, It doesn't make it harder to drive; actually it does make it easier and safer to drive than the old days.

 

But, it does strip an older experienced motorist (any idiot can be a driver ) of the feeling of being in full control over all mechanical operations of the vehicle. Certainly not harder for a motorist who will adapt to whatever the mechanical capabilities and shortcomings of a particular vehicle.

 

I, for one, don't miss the the "old days" when the complete set of options were radio and heater.

 

Forget about automatic trannys where all you need to do is place in D and R, more fun crawling under a vehicle to unjamb the shift rods if trying to do a fast 1-2 shift with a three-on-the-tree or grinding trying a 2-1 on a non synchro or trying to feather a 40 lb throw rod operated three finger clutch while twisting and throwing a hand brake while rolling backward on a steep hill.

Likewise:

Forget about seat belts, more fun to slide across a bench seat making a sharp turn or smashing your head on the roof when you hit a large bump.

Forget about windshield washers, more fun to dry scrape salt off the windshield when blinded by kicked up road salt or mud in a vehicle without windshield wiper/washers

Forget about power window/locks, more fun to stretch three feet to reach across to roll down a window or lock a passenger door

Forget about rear cameras/power mirrors or even just a standard passenger side mirror, more fun to backup the old fastback by ear

Forget about 4 wheel power discs, more fun trying to stop non power 4 drum brakes after driving through a puddle

Forget about variable control wipers, more fun trying to operate vacuum wipers going up a hill or the "advanced" electric one speed wipers in a blinding rainstorm

Forget about radial tires, more fun with bias belted to limit your speed in a turn or the biennial joy of changing snow tires

Forget about padded dashes, head restraints, air bags and collapsible steering columns, more fun to cut you lip or knock out your teeth bouncing off the metal steering wheel on a short stop without a seatbelt, decapitate you in a frontal collision, or one way visit to a dirt nap or concrete condo from a serious accident

Forget about anti skid, more fun to chance rolling the truck in an emergency maneuver to avoid an accident

Forget about computerized fuel injection, more fun with the old carb and manual choke, just jamb it open with a screwdriver when the engine fails to start in sub zero or floods and back off so the four foot flame doesn't leave you painting on your eyebrows

Forget about computerized ignition, more fun to open the old distributor to scrape off carbon arcing or adjust the points trying to get a start,

Forget about halogen,projector or LED lighting, more fun squinting and smashing deer with the old tungsten sealed beams,

And last, but not least forget about A/C, more fun to use the old 4/40 alternative...roll down the 4 windows and go 40 mph with your sweaty back and a$$ stuck to the vinyl seats the vinyl seats

 

And as far as being more expensive goes, forget about the inflated dollars of today's economy, my first new car a '65 Impala SS went for $2,850 when gold was $35 an ounce or 85x my '16 Silverado went for $40,000 when gold was $1500 an ounce or 26x; seems today's new vehicles cost less than 1/3 of their 1965 counterparts in real earning power.

 

It's nice to look back upon the days of my '60 Impala, '65 Impala SS, and '69 Chevelle which were great rides in their time but given the choice of having them back as a present day drive when compared against modern vehicles with all their features- Forgeddaboiutit!

[truckguy82]

If you live in an area which you are frequently exposed to heavy traffic, adaptive cruise control is incredible and definitely much safer.

 

Radar > human depth perception and reaction time

 

I've used GM's lane assist, it's a nice feature. It lost it's tracking in several places that were either sharp turns or poorly marked lines. Not as useful as ACC, but a feature I would still want.

 

All of the alert functions can go to hell

[bboyce536]

My 16 Malibu had that lane keep assist, only thing I was happy about was that I could disable it. All this tech seems to make the driver feel enabled. Oh hey my car can watch the road for me, I can write this text!

[Crstfr]

i dont think my truck even came with those features... 55k... what???

[Thomcat]

i dont think my truck even came with those features... 55k... what???

You want extra features for a measly $55K? We're fortunate the GM designers grace us with a spare tire instead of a can of goop when we pay for the larger optional wheels!

 

The new top line $30K '16 Malibus come with a can of goop while the $20K lower lines come with a donut spare. And I found out why......GM's made sure to overcharge another $4K+ for the optional driver assist crap in their newly redesigned Malibu.....but didn't bother to redesign a trunk well large enough to fit the optional wheels or equivalent size replacement donut! Instead they address the situation in the owner's manual.....if the goop doesn't work call for a flatbed.