Driving the GreenRoad to Safety: Technology’s solution problems

Technology is developing fast and it is a fair question to ask if we can keep up with its development. Rapid development can provide rapid benefits; the challenge is evaluating if what we develop truly works in our favor. Throw in the mix that most new developments are driven by for-profit intentions, and we experience progress “on the fly”. We develop, experiment and evaluate our progress in real time, to keep up with the pace of the world around us and market needs.

All problems require solutions. The competition for viable solutions for existing problems is tough. There are many bright minds out there are stepping up to the challenge of solving the many problems we face. One problem great interest to me, vehicle crashes, is still in need of a global solution.

There’s an abundance of information detailing why vehicle crashes are a problem that should worry us all (loss of life and real dollars are just a few) so, I won’t repeat these facts here. Suffice it to say, that some 3,000 people die every day on the roads as a result of drivers crashing their vehicles into other vehicles or pedestrians.

Looking at the short historical development of cars it is surprising how low tech they are. Other technologies that have developed in parallel seemto progress much further over a shorter period of time. Some 100+ years into the game and the vast majority of vehicles are the same combustion engine, four tires, metal shell transport that they were when first conceived.

The average speed in London 100 years ago was 12 KM/H. It is still the same today. Back then it was due to the horse power available, and today it is because of road congestion. Leaving the cause aside, you are not getting to work any faster than you would have driving a Ford Model T. So the fact that your vehicle is shipped today with 250 bhp costs you a fortune, but doesn’t get you anywhere any faster. And if you can go faster, your chances of being involved in a crash dramatically increase. Just an example of how solving one problem (getting there faster) created many other previously non existant problems.

So here are the two challenges of technology. First, we are up against selecting the technology that would best solve the problems we face. Second, is acknowledging the fact that each new technology we introduce is embedded with new problems of tomorrow. If history has taught us anything is that today’s solutions are tomorrow’s problems.

Bringing this down to the level in which technologies will help us best solve the problem of crashes, there is a lot to be said on both selecting the right technology and the future impacts these technologies will have on our lives.

Evolution did quite an astounding piece of work bringing us to where we are today. One piece missing from evolution’s road map was planning for the situation in which humans would travel extremely faster than the speed in which their legs can carry them. We travel fast, but our sensory system, reaction and vision, are not developed for these speeds or amounts of tasks needed to keep us traveling safe at these speeds.

The technological answer to this problem is enhancing the limited abilities of the driver. Computers already intervene with our driving (brake control, skid control, etc.) and will intervene more in the future. This is all very well if it helps reduce crashes, however, studies teach us that the more comfort and safety (or perceived safety) drivers are provided by technological systems, the more risks these drivers take while driving.

Humans want to travel, and if possible, fast. We want to “get there” so once “there” we can complete whatever it was we have in mind. Humans also enjoy the thrill of the travel itself, or use the travel as a mean to express or ease their tensions and emotions (road rage, aggressive driving, stress, etc.)

We are trapped in a vicious cycle. The more technology we throw at ourselves to overcome our limitations, the more we push the envelope and challenge the abilities of these technologies to protect us.

Thus technology is part of the solution, but also of the problem.

What we need is not more technology taking responsibility off of our hands, but technology that better trains drivers and coaches them to drive within their limitations. Once drivers are aware of the risks they take, they will stop challenging their environment and learn to drive within it and within their own limitations. Drivers who are aware of the risks around them, are well trained and are focused on taking the right choices while they drive, will crash less.

Our challenge is to make sure all drivers are provided with tools enabling and empowering with: awareness to risk, good driving skills and the ability to make and take the right choices while they drive. In this format technology has a chance of being a tool training us to realize and live within our limitations instead of attempting to replace them.

Drive safely, it’s worth it,

Hod Fleishman, Founder and Chief of Safety.

Comments

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Hi Hod,

While I tend to agree with your point that vehicle advancements have not stayed on par with other technologies during the same period, there are a lot of risk factors and regulatory factors that have also prevented "evolution". I'm not making a case for the lack of results however, because now the opportunity for a significant shift in whole automotive industry is in play.

Are you drawing direct correlation between advances in technology and increases in car crashes? That debate has been made before but the results were that despite the increased perception of safety and therefore some desire to "push the envelope" the advancements in safety technologies spares more lives.

Melissa Brandao

Posted by: melissa brandao | May 05, 2010 at 11:22 AM