Has anybody else seen the Volvo S80 commercials that tout their new fancy safety features? In reality, they are just making it easier for people to drive like morons.
I can’t find a link to these videos anywhere, but there are a couple commercials that strike me as off. One has a woman driving the Volvo with a pile of file folders on her passenger seat. Something causes a couple of the folders to come off the seat onto the floor. So instead of waiting until she’s stopped to get the folders off the floor, she continues driving and leans down to pick her folders. Her head is below her windshield so she obviously can’t see or isn’t even remotely watching the road in front of her. Thankfully the car is smarter than she is, and its collision detection system kicks it, makes an awful noise to warn her and gets the car ready to brake, saving her (and her files) just in time.
The second commercial shows a guy driving down a freeway. In the commercial, the guy nearly changes lanes right into the motorcycle in the lane next to him, something he could’ve avoided if a) he’d been paying attention to traffic as he’s going down the freeway), b) actually turned his head before changing lanes, like you’re supposed to do (everybody remembers that part of driver’s ed., right?) or c) he had his mirrors adjusted so blind spots weren’t as big of an issue. But he avoids the accident because of the “Blind Spot Information System” (which, for all I can tell, is a little red light on the mirror that lights up when you’re about to clobber somebody).
Now don’t get me wrong — these are all great safety features, and these are nice cars (I’d drive one if someone gave me one), but my worry is that this is going to teach drivers to rely on these features instead of just flat-out paying attention while they’re driving. They should be a supplement for a driver, not a replacement for common sense.
(Edited: Fixed a couple of stupid typos.)
Comments
I totally agree with you on that one, Jake! Well phrased, too.
I’ve often noticed that drivers of Volvos are ones who particularly need the extra safety features, based on their driving skills.
Good post!
Volvo never learn (nor do ad agencies). Volvo used to advertise like that back in England in the 1970’s. Basically, drive like a moron because you’re in a road legal tank and you won’t get hurt! At least they’re trying to avoid other people too now.
Safe driving is an obligation for all drivers, equipments only assists.
And that blind spot thing…..one must train to overcome that weakness.
YES! Thank you!!
I was watching those ads and thinking, what the heck.. they are trying to stop people from thinking altogether. Come on.. whats next? Sleep while driving? Car wakes you up when you are about to hit something? Jeez.
Hahahah. This actually reminded me of a teenage-years friend of mine, who planted his crappy little car into a tree (he wasn’t hurt, but the car was pretty much totalled) because he had bent down to search for the burning joint he had just dropped … 😉
But while I totally agree with the fact that Volvo’s approach to selling cars is stupid, I have to say I love those cars. I used to own one, and they really are sturdy, reliable tanks.
Now if only someone would teach those Hummer/monster 4×4 truck drivers that there are smaller cars who would like to utilize the road too, I’d be very, very happy …
Oh, I think Volvos are fine cars, Simone — just hate the way they’re marketed.
People are going to drive like morons anyway, so why not do what’s technologically possible to protect them — and the rest of us — from their stupidity?