Car for Distracted Driver

edgemar · 06-28-2022, 09:22 AM

I have a family member that keeps running into things because they are impatient and often distracted behind the wheel. Any idea what would be a good car (other than an Uber of Lyft) to get for someone like that? I assume a small SUV with as many sensors as possible such as a GLA or XC40. Does one brand have superior sensors?

Unfortunately, this vehicle is not available in the United States:

Thanks for your ideas!

PorscheGAL · PorscheGAL's Garage

I would say Tesla because their sensors and automatic stopping is amazing but if they do hit something and need bodywork it is terribly expensive

pwd72s · 06-28-2022, 10:07 AM

I'd think it may be time for the family member to consider letting others do the driving.

herr_oberst · 06-28-2022, 10:09 AM

edgemar · 06-28-2022, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PorscheGAL

I would say Tesla because their sensors and automatic stopping is amazing but if they do hit something and need bodywork it is terribly expensive

6 - 8 month wait

red 928 · 06-28-2022, 10:18 AM

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

Public transportation. And make them pay for all insurance costs if they do drive.

They simply MUST learn that driving is a primary activity, and not something to do while using a phone to text, email, or watch videos.

Driving must be the focus of attention when behind the wheel. If not, they don't deserve to drive. Period.

herr_oberst · 06-28-2022, 10:33 AM

Can you imagine any other scenario where there is an incompetent operator - and innocent people could die from that incompetence - being given a "safer" more expensive tool rather than having that operator either prove that he or she has been trained properly or taken off that job?

Crane operator? Ferry captain? Carney at the midway? Dynamite loader?

This rant isn't directed at the OPoster, it's a societal issue. We have got to stop rewarding bad behavior.

edgemar · 06-28-2022, 10:38 AM

This person has never crashed a car... Just backing into things, scraping poles etc. Parking lot stuff.

Definitely, no one to be using their phone driving down the road.

Car rash in a parking lot so to speak.

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Can you imagine any other scenario where there is an incompetent operator - and innocent people could die from that incompetence - being given a "safer" more expensive tool rather than having that operator either prove that he or she has been trained properly or taken off that job?

Crane operator? Ferry captain? Carney at the midway? Dynamite loader?

This rant isn't directed at the OPoster, it's a societal issue. We have got to stop rewarding bad behavior.

Yep, I have long said we should but some drivers in a plastic bubble on the front bumper, with spikes pointing at them from every angle. Then maybe they will drive more carefully.

One of my former bosses was someone no one wanted to park behind. He just went blind if he was backing up. He totaled a few cars, and often it was the other guy's car that was totaled.

I have had my 86 El Camino for 30 years, and my 911 for 27 years. There is not one single scratch, or door ding on either. They do have rock chips of course. I work hard to keep them in great shape. The El Camino has been backing into in a parking lot when I was not in it. It was parked in a good spot, and 100% legally parked. Some people must try to hit other cars. The massive 1980s bumpers on the Elky have saved it a lot of body damage from other idiots in parking lots.

pwd72s · 06-28-2022, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgemar

This person has never crashed a car... Just backing into things, scraping poles etc. Parking lot stuff.

Definitely, no one to be using their phone driving down the road.

Car rash in a parking lot so to speak.

No thought to the owner of the parked car who got "scraped"? C'mon...you have to know it's not all poles being hit. But in that case...no backup camera?

edgemar · 06-28-2022, 11:01 AM

compensation has been paid.

Need to get a car that auto-brakes when backing up.

masraum · 06-28-2022, 11:03 AM

Subarus with the "eyesight" system are pretty good for accident avoidance.

Bill Douglas · 06-28-2022, 12:11 PM

I think a suitable punishment for distracted AND drunk drivers is three years of bicycle ridding - no car. That will give them a huge sense of reality.

What? Can't get to work? Leave three hours earlier.

stevej37 · 12:32 PM

^^^
I have been ridding my bike every day this summer.
I love it!

Otter74 · 06-28-2022, 02:34 PM

Something cheap and kinda already beat up, so that when they damage it you don't feel compelled to fix it.

masraum · 06-28-2022, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Otter74

Something cheap and kinda already beat up, so that when they damage it you don't feel compelled to fix it.

That's probably the best. I'm not sure that a car full of nannies will fix the problem. I've never tried, but I assume a driver could override many/some nannies.

Years ago, my wife was in her miata in a line of stopped vehicles behind an expedition with the proximity sensors. The expedition started backing up. My wife honked the horn, and the expedition backed into her car. The woman said that the thing was beeping that she was going to hit something, but she didn't see anything in her rearview so she kept going.