What improvements would you make?

[PHMatt]

Conscript said:

Whilst sitting in slow moving traffic on the A2 a while ago, and witnessing a line of cars attempting to merge from a slip road into lane 1 which was full of other cars that were moving slow, but sitting bumper to bumper, I thought about something - how about a warning buzzer (a bit like a seat-belt warning chime) that sounds all the while you are maintaining less than a 2 second gap to the car in front whilst moving.

Only way to disable it is to maintain a safe distance to the car in front. Checked as a mandatory MOT requirement. It seems to me that a huge amount of problems on our crowded motorways are actually caused by people sitting too close to each other rather than anything else.

Going bumper to bumper helps no one. BUT - people who go all the way down and then try and cut in cause those at the front to go bumper to bumper.
The real problem is with those that don't filter in soon enough to keep traffic flowing.
I let plenty of people in at the back of the lane where people are filtering in. But when I've seen the signs warning of lane closures etc, got in the lane at a safe point and trundled along, like fk am I going to let 37 toss pots that ignore the sign, drove freely down the empty closed lane and then indicate in at the very last concievable second. You wouldn't get a razor blade in the gap I'll leave to the car in front in those situations.

[swapped]

Some of these have been implemented in cars I have driven, and I miss them when I have to manage without. Others I have never met.

Fog lights that reset to off when the ignition is turned off.

Ignition key battery that charges while it's inserted.

Three-pin mains sockets for charging laptops and anything else that might not have a cigarette-lighter adapter with it.

Rear screen that auto-darkens like my rear view mirror does, so that I can't be dazzled by low sun or high-beams reflecting on my dash or shiny trim pieces.

Interior door lock buttons / plippers on cars with two doors, that can be reached from where my hand is, rather than a foot behind my shoulder (bravo BMW, shame SAAB).

Fuse boxes that use re-settable trip switches like in my house, instead of fuses that blow.

Rear lights that brighten on braking to replicate the function of brake lights when the brake light bulb blows.

All fixings for engine covering panels and belly-panels to be made of a non-corroding metal and designed to be captive to the panel being removed.

Outside the car, it should be compulsory for speed cameras to have the applicable speed limit displayed on them, so that people don't slow down to 30 just in case.

[Regiment]

OLED transparent windscreen, all navigation information is overlaid onto the windscreen.

[dvs_dave]

PHMatt said:

Going bumper to bumper helps no one. BUT - people who go all the way down and then try and cut in cause those at the front to go bumper to bumper.
The real problem is with those that don't filter in soon enough to keep traffic flowing.
I let plenty of people in at the back of the lane where people are filtering in. But when I've seen the signs warning of lane closures etc, got in the lane at a safe point and trundled along, like fk am I going to let 37 toss pots that ignore the sign, drove freely down the empty closed lane and then indicate in at the very last concievable second. You wouldn't get a razor blade in the gap I'll leave to the car in front in those situations.

And that is why you are part of the problem. If you weren't so petty and dim whitted, you'd realise that if everybody properly understood and implemented the concept of "merge in turn", traffic tailbacks due to lane closures would be significantly reduced.

[j90gta]

Indicators that work in premium German cars (or are they just optional extras!)

[dvs_dave]

Anyway, back on topic.

Cruise control with a few user defined, quickly selectable speed presets.

[PHMatt]

dvs_dave said:

PHMatt said:

Going bumper to bumper helps no one. BUT - people who go all the way down and then try and cut in cause those at the front to go bumper to bumper.
The real problem is with those that don't filter in soon enough to keep traffic flowing.
I let plenty of people in at the back of the lane where people are filtering in. But when I've seen the signs warning of lane closures etc, got in the lane at a safe point and trundled along, like fk am I going to let 37 toss pots that ignore the sign, drove freely down the empty closed lane and then indicate in at the very last concievable second. You wouldn't get a razor blade in the gap I'll leave to the car in front in those situations.

And that is why you are part of the problem. If you weren't so petty and dim whitted, you'd realise that if everybody properly understood and implemented the concept of "merge in turn", traffic tailbacks due to lane closures would be significantly reduced.

That's utter bks. The lane is closed - get out of it asap. Don't drive all the way to the front and cause a bottle neck.
If every one filtered a mile away from the actual closed point the traffic will flow fast and smooth in the open lane. When wkers pile down the closed lane then cut in you get accidents and jams.

[gsavill90]

Clivey said:

A system that detects middle lane hogging and electrocutes the driver.

As someone who lives next to a magic roundabout (6 mini roundabouts linked together)... I'd add that using the car's horn also electrocutes the driver.

Horns are for emergencies, not a way of venting your frustration at the slightly hesitant driver in front of you.


Also - and this one wont be popular - but why don't we have GPS speed limiters yet?

[PHMatt]

j90gta said:

Indicators that work in premium German cars (or are they just optional extras!)

Literally one of the most out dated pointless jokes of all time.
Well done you for regurgitating the jealous bile 1970's anti foreign car buying labour voting dimwits used.

[PHMatt]

PHMatt said:

dvs_dave said:

PHMatt said:

Going bumper to bumper helps no one. BUT - people who go all the way down and then try and cut in cause those at the front to go bumper to bumper.
The real problem is with those that don't filter in soon enough to keep traffic flowing.
I let plenty of people in at the back of the lane where people are filtering in. But when I've seen the signs warning of lane closures etc, got in the lane at a safe point and trundled along, like fk am I going to let 37 toss pots that ignore the sign, drove freely down the empty closed lane and then indicate in at the very last concievable second. You wouldn't get a razor blade in the gap I'll leave to the car in front in those situations.

And that is why you are part of the problem. If you weren't so petty and dim whitted, you'd realise that if everybody properly understood and implemented the concept of "merge in turn", traffic tailbacks due to lane closures would be significantly reduced.

That's utter bks. The lane is closed - get out of it asap. Don't drive all the way to the front and cause a bottle neck.
If every one filtered a mile away from the actual closed point the traffic will flow fast and smooth in the open lane. When wkers pile down the closed lane then cut in you get accidents and jams.

This rant has given me a great idea though. To ENFORCE correct and considerate lane filtering cars should be fitted with an automatic cut off. If a car drives past a sign showing a lane is closed for more than 100 yards it cuts out and costs to a stop. They can have their engine turned back on after a mandatory "time out"

[jet_noise]

gsavill90 said:

<snip>

Horns are for emergencies

Oops.

Driving Test Result: Fail.
Reason: Insufficient knowledge of the highway code.

Sorry gs90, couldn't resist

[ST270]

Rain repellent windows all round as standard. Lexus have been doing this for years on the front side windows. Great in driving rain at junctions and on motorway. (Rain X will do the same however it needs reapplying frequently)

Edited by ST270 on Thursday 6th October 15:41

[thunderpigeon]

A lot of suggestions are for pet hates of mine - fog lights for when its foggy, wipers and headlights being linked and instruments only being lit when the lights are on and a few others and do need to be made ASAP!!!

Surely some form of driver training and test could be given so people actually are aware of how to use fog lights, headlights and other parts of the car....

[sebhaque]

Danattheopticians said:

BAN Audi from stupid indicator designs doing:

1) Sweeping motion - Serves no purpose and look totally and utterly pretentious!

I like the sweeping motion of the indicators on new Audis. However, what's very irritating is that the indicators also sweep if the hazard lights are on. Surely if the hazards are on, the car could just light up the entire unit at the same time? This would also help with the OP's wish of making hazard lights distinguishable from indicators.

[mph.52]

Have often thought that using a combintion of lenses and mirrors it should be possible to get the image from the wing mirror to appear on the inside of the car without having to see through a wet, misty or mucky side window - or do I need a camera or two?

[ST270]

mph.52 said:

Have often thought that using a combintion of lenses and mirrors it should be possible to get the image from the wing mirror to appear on the inside of the car without having to see through a wet, misty or mucky side window - or do I need a camera or two?

See my post re rain repellent windows... works a treat

[PHMatt]

sebhaque said:

Danattheopticians said:

BAN Audi from stupid indicator designs doing:

1) Sweeping motion - Serves no purpose and look totally and utterly pretentious!

I like the sweeping motion of the indicators on new Audis. However, what's very irritating is that the indicators also sweep if the hazard lights are on. Surely if the hazards are on, the car could just light up the entire unit at the same time? This would also help with the OP's wish of making hazard lights distinguishable from indicators.

I wonder if the hate for the sweeping Audi indicators is replicated for the 2016 Mustang which does the same IIRC?

[bigmuzzie]

gsavill90 said:

Also - and this one wont be popular - but why don't we have GPS speed limiters yet?

They'd be disabled by many, they'd need constant updates for changes / new roads and it'd really annoy you on most roads. Can you imagine on a national speed limit road and you couldn't overtake the slow moving vehicle in front because there was never a big enough gap?
Then there is the lack of revenue from fines.

I could understand a GPS limiter for 20 / 30 MPH sections to get rid of speed bumps and cameras 40 sections also perhaps.

On that note - I'd like to see the removal of all speed bumps. If traffic needs slowing use a different method not one that destroys my car, causes excessive fuel consumption not to mention the bad parking around them.

I'd also like to see more rigorous tests for older folks - some of the narrow country lanes by me are littered with these hazards who simply can't judge gaps and the size of their car.

DRL's should be banned as should stupid headlight shapes. They are a safety and functional item not your wife's fancy frock.

Infotainment - far too many distractions in modern cars, calls in your car via the stereo fair enough but anything else is too much.

Brakes that aren't over assisted. You get loads of confidence from the first CM of travel then suddenly they vanish and you realise that they were lying to you and they are actually very rubbish at stopping your progress.

[Smitters]

PHMatt said:

dvs_dave said:

PHMatt said:

Going bumper to bumper helps no one. BUT - people who go all the way down and then try and cut in cause those at the front to go bumper to bumper.
The real problem is with those that don't filter in soon enough to keep traffic flowing.
I let plenty of people in at the back of the lane where people are filtering in. But when I've seen the signs warning of lane closures etc, got in the lane at a safe point and trundled along, like fk am I going to let 37 toss pots that ignore the sign, drove freely down the empty closed lane and then indicate in at the very last concievable second. You wouldn't get a razor blade in the gap I'll leave to the car in front in those situations.

And that is why you are part of the problem. If you weren't so petty and dim whitted, you'd realise that if everybody properly understood and implemented the concept of "merge in turn", traffic tailbacks due to lane closures would be significantly reduced.

That's utter bks. The lane is closed - get out of it asap. Don't drive all the way to the front and cause a bottle neck.
If every one filtered a mile away from the actual closed point the traffic will flow fast and smooth in the open lane. When wkers pile down the closed lane then cut in you get accidents and jams.

The lane is open until it isn't. If everyone just merged sensibly over the entire stretch of the warning area it wouldn't be an issue, as the lane wouldn't be empty because everyone leapt over with 800 yards to go except a few, who then find small minded folk won't let them in, thus are forced to come to a halt. I tend to think if everyone focused on a) trying to keep moving in traffic by allowing space to slow down without jumping on the brakes and b) let one car in each, the world would be a better place.

To put this in perspective, if you let the biggest "car" I can find on Wikipedia in, a Ford F350 (at 6.68m), then once out of the roadworks drove at 70 mph behind them, including the two second gap we all leave of course, you'd reach your motorway exit 2.21 seconds later than if you spitefully block the Ford and maintain your motorway place. Even if you do this twice a day, every working day of the year, you are only saving 17 minutes a year by being spiteful. So next time, let someone in, and give that old re-run of Friends a miss and hey presto, you're no longer spiteful and you've only missed Joey wearing his Thanksgiving pants for the 300th time.

To the OP, I'd like to see car lights that turn off when the key is removed. No bells, no warnings, no running down of the battery. Just off, like every other f'ing thing on the car when you remove the key. You want them on that one time when you're parking on a dark road? Use the bypass switch. Subaru did this on 90's Imprezas. Fiat did it on 80's Pandas. Yet my Audi beeps if I leave the lights on when I get out in 2016. ttting thing.

[Jex]

gsavill90 said:

Clivey said:

A system that detects middle lane hogging and electrocutes the driver.

As someone who lives next to a magic roundabout (6 mini roundabouts linked together)... I'd add that using the car's horn also electrocutes the driver.

Electrocutes is a bit severe! Surely an electric shock would be sufficient.