Watched a clip from a US TV network last night about some new research into the question vexing many regulators over there, especially as far as younger drivers are concerned, driver distraction.
Turns out that even clever technology, such as text-to-words, where the car reads the message to you, is still more of a distraction than you might think. So today I read that automated emergency calls from cars could be mandatory over here from 2015 and the cynic in me thinks, great, first the car distracts you, then it helps rescue you from the resulting crash…
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Anyone trained in first aid knows about ‘the golden hour’ within which, if you get help, you’re more likely to survive and anything that ensures the cavalry arrives pronto is to be commended. The auto industry is a long way down the road towards such technology – order a GM car in the US with OnStar and automated emergency rescue calls come standard, along with all sorts of useful ‘concierge’ services such as being able to ask a Real Person to assist with locating that restaurant and then download the navigation instructions straight to the car. Or help you, klutz, unlock the vehicle after you shut the keys inside…
On my one and only visit to Detroit so far, I unexpectedly had the opportunity to see one of the OnStar centres in action. Once they’ve deflected the snide comments about all those big screens being ideal for watching the Superbowl while on the company clock, they explain how they are actually used to monitor such things as the event itself, rather than the game – which increases traffic, so there are more lockouts, breakdowns, direction requests, traffic jams and accidents to deal with – and coast to coast weather which brings jams, redirection requests and crashes. Enquiring about extending OnStar to Europe, I was told a lack of standardisation of infrastructure – how emergency services are contacted, for example – was one obstacle. This is reflected in today’s story – in Europe you dial 112, here in the UK it’s 999. 911 in the US, of course.
While we’re on cars automating things, from Audi came news of a system that automatically finds the car park space and pays the (in UK, extortionate) charge for occupying same. Beats burrowing for change or trying to fathom one of the ‘park by phone’ systems slowly creeping up on us.
This week some of us have been at the ANE Congress in Paris – bolshie French air traffic controllers and overcrowded Eurostar trains permitting. All reports conveniently crammed into one place – like our man on the train – for easy access.
Volkswagen‘s also been in the news with an Australian recall that since extended by brand, and country. I can’t help thinking that DSG could be a ticking time bomb for the automaker. Google ‘mechatronic’ and ‘Jetta’ and stand back. VW has also had issues with some engines and Teves ABS control units and the odd skirmish with media over whether it should carry out a proper recall or extend just the ‘service campaign’ net. VW UK briefed a select group of journalists (I ain’t ‘select’ if you are wondering) over dinner this week and said the problems in Australia, China, etc were temperature and humidity-related and didn’t apply in Europe. Barely had one London-based editor tweeted that than he received a reply from what I think was an unhappy Swedish taxi driver querying the humidity bit. There’s more on twin clutches to come, I suspect, though I have to say, based on a couple of 15-minute quickie drives, the ol’ DSG works OK enough when it is working.
Nonetheless, VW brand sales have continued to grow this year though we were a bit surprised to learn this week how long the current Passat will last before its replacement.
Finally, a bit of analysis on urban mobility trends to end the week. Pull up a beer and enjoy.
Graeme Roberts, Deputy Editor, just-auto.com
