Does it pay to be too reliant on technology?

[Dirty3]

Here's a good one.
Whilst backing my car recently at a mates place to kindly make way for more vehicles (big party), I backed into a tree!
Yes, the reversing sensors were doing their thing, but stubbornly I could see in my rear view mirror that there was plenty of room before hitting the tree....well so I thought! Next thing I hear is a thud and the car sort of stops, well slows a little. Then I realised i'd hit the tree. Unfortunately the tree had a bend in it, so what I could see in the mirror was about 2 feet away, but it bent forward toward the upper tailgate and well.... that's the story.[bigsad]

Anyway, had the tailgate fixed and picked it up today. The damage was at the top of the tailgate next to the stop light. It can't be repaired as that area can't be accessed from inside the stop light to repair from inside, plus the stop light must be smashed to change it as it is glued into place. Too bad if you ever have to change the globe :p

Anyway, have a new tailgate now.....just got to learn to trust the technology. I do in the bush, it's awesome, but still there's a little voice telling me to still rely on my skills too. :eek2:

[33chinacars]

I did something simular. Just after buying my L322 went to back out of shed. Had pushed sliding door open. Reversered Beep Beep Beep BANG. Hadn't push door far enough. One badly bent door & small dent in tail gate. Should have listened to Beep Beep Beep.

Gary

[Blknight.aus]

its great, right up to the point when you're relying on it and its not working.

[Disco4SE]

Hey Dirty3, add on reversing cameras are pretty cheap now.
I had my auto electrician install one just after I bought the D4 (2 years ago). However, I have now got to rely on it. Still safer than the bip bips.

Cheers, Craig

[Graeme]

The thread title should be "Does it pay to IGNORE technology?"

[Bigbjorn]

There are old technology optical monitoring devices that everyone should use when reversing. They are called eyes.

[Ozzy119]

I think I rely on it too much and expect it to be there when it isn't......we have a fleet of pool cars at work and I regularly end up getting too close for comfort when moving around the car park as some vehicles don't have the sensors and I just fortget....

[p38arover]

There are old technology optical monitoring devices that everyone should use when reversing. They are called eyes.

My wife often asks why I don't use the reverse camera in the Forester. Maybe 'cos I'm so used to using mirrors. I do find it useful for getting close to another car when parallel parking.

[Disco4SE]

My wife often asks why I don't use the reverse camera in the Forester. Maybe 'cos I'm so used to using mirrors. I do find it useful for getting close to another car when parallel parking.
I suppose it is whatever you get used to. I also use my mirrors when reversing, but check the camera view as well........how's that for multi tasking. I find it handy for reverse parking and where you are backing up to a wall etc.
Most of all, for hitching up trailers. I have 3 trailers, all with different length draw bars, so the camera is gold.

Cheers, Craig

[Mike_S]

I remember telling SWMBO that the parking sensors on her Audi A4 Cabrio didn't work if you were just rolling backwards out of gear.

Luckily she hadn't seen me polishing off the evidence of how I'd made this discovery :angel:

[rainman]

It's all part of the dumbing down of the world. We used to make right hand turns by obeying a simple set of road rules too, but now we have to often wait until the green arrows tells us we can, otherwise we might have a crash. :mad:

James.

[AGRO]

I noticed an advertisment for a GPS/Street Navigator indicating that it had a "new" development in its software. REAL VIEW.

Apparently the software showed on screen what you would/should actually see out the window hence the claim REAL VIEW.

What is wrong with the real real view anyway?

Technology is a great aid to enhance our well evolved human sensors but over reliance on a dumb box has and is stealing our awarness of the real world around us.

Mirrors and rear sensors are great - eyes are too!!!

[Robocop]

It's all part of the dumbing down of the world. We used to make right hand turns by obeying a simple set of road rules too, but now we have to often wait until the green arrows tells us we can, otherwise we might have a crash. :mad:

James.

Yes James the traffic lights have made traffic flow more efficient, but i feel made us less aware of our surroundings. We do rely on the 'other person' obeying their red signal.

As for reverse beepers I haven't always had them in my cars, actually my Freelander 2 was the first. I just got used to judging the distance in the side mirrors, using shop front glass windows reflection to see the distance behind or the old block of 2x4 as a stopper on the garage floor.

At the end of the day both technology & humans fail at some point.

[Dirty3]

There are old technology optical monitoring devices that everyone should use when reversing. They are called eyes.

Amazing, must get me a set of those!!! Well have booked to get my eyes tested this week....just for reading though [thumbsupbig]