Road departure mitigation - is it rubbish?

[Hicardo]

A few days into my trial of 'delayed' and mixed.  As before not really an issue on faster wider roads, but continues to bong and display on the screen on narrower roads with no white lines.  Mine seems to start working at about 20mph, which doesnt help.  Can the speed at which it starts working be increased do you know?

I'll persist for a bit, see if i can get used to it, but on a narrowish but still wide enough for 2 cars diversion this morning, i found the alarming and bonging too distracting, and turned it off. 

[NorthWales Peter]

I wouldn't say its rubbish, but its very annoying, especially when you consider you cant deactivate it completely.

You can switch it off every journey, but it reactivates itself once the car is switched off.

Its the only very minor negative aspect of owning a Jazz Hybrid, as the constand jarring of the steering wheel when the system operates can be a real nuisance.

Its not rubbish, but not being able to fully disarm it permanently is annoyin

[Kremmen]

There are many occurrences where you can safely, deliberately, cross a white line with no indication necessary, only to be presented with a large orange warning and steering wheel wobble

I hated it and turned it off every journey

[John Ratsey]

There are many occurrences where you can safely, deliberately, cross a white line with no indication necessary, only to be presented with a large orange warning and steering wheel wobble

RDMS gets excited when it doesn't sense any deliberate movement of the steering wheel. I find that a deliberate, but small, turn of the steering wheel means I can cross the line in the middle of the road without RDMS getting excited. If I steer a smoother and straighter course to drift across the line (or go near the edge of the road on a slight wiggle) then RDMS thinks I need waking up.

[Mr Onion]

So the RDMS doesn't like a smooth driving style (which is why its always going off in our car)

Surely something that detects an aggressive driving style would be a far better safety feature

[Lord Voltermore]

Its primary function is to save you from the consequences of driver inattention.  Not to judge your driving . Crossing a line, cutting a corner  etc may  be perfectly acceptable if you have a good view but reckless stupidity if you do not .

If the car detects from steering and braking inputs that the driver is in control and intends what is happening  it will overide RDMS intervention.  You cant expect the system to detect  if the driver is actually driving badly in the circumstances.  I regard the occasional 'false alarm'  a small price to pay  for  a system with potential to save you from disaster with an intervention or 'wake up' alarm. 

When I was younger cars were comparatively noisy bone shakers requiring regular driver ntervention. Yet drivers still sometimes fell asleep.   Cars  are now  quieter, smooth,  comfortable and able to self drive to some extent. With many new potential distraction such as mobile phones etc. Or a lifestyle that disrupts sufficient sleep.           

[Mr Onion]

With many new potential distraction such as mobile phones etc. Or a lifestyle that disrupts sufficient sleep.         

In which case one should not be driving AT ALL

People need to learn that when you are driving a motor vehicle it should take the majority (and in particular circumstances  ALL) of your concentration, not just the occasional passing thought.

When I am driving the phone gets ignored (or turned off) I do not adjust any control that requires me to look at it (so called smart screen) Thats what my co driver (aka Mrs Onion) is for.

... and when she is driving I take on the roll of co driver.

... and if I am driving alone, thats what i do DRIVE

'You' (the generic you) may consider the beeps boops and wheel shake helpful (which is a perfectly valid viewpoint) but being automated they give negative distracting results as often (or perhaps more so) that positive helpful ones.

<gets off soapbox>

[Hicardo]

Jury still out

[Lord Voltermore]

 Members of the Jury.

I agree driving requires 100 % dedication to the task. No one should drive while  multitasking , or   too tired to give it their full concentration. But many do.  And to be blunt  some drivers shouldnt be driving anyway,not only due to their age. 

Some may be deluding themselves that many years of driving without mishap before  drivers aids means they dont need them now, or in the future. Driver aid interventions are NOT a personal  insult to your driving ability.   

Even the best drivers ,young or old, can lose concentration  as they grow weary. Your body can sometimes warn you in time  that you are having short lapses  and need to take a break. Ignore this at your peril. The next short step is being asleep at the wheel.   More likely i suppose if you drive long distances or work long shifts.

Why would you want to opt out of additional safeguards by drivers aids? ?   Often you will know why it happened,eg you deliberately crossed a line etc.  But it may be unexpected and acts as an additional warning you may not be concentrating  and need to up your game, or take a break. 

I'm not sure about the earlier mk 4's , but the facelift  has a 'coffee cup' warning light  advising you to take a break  I think it monitors  the frequency of  interventions  and your reaction time,and maybe non stop driving hours  which might suggest you are not concentrating.   Or is that also an insult?   

[Jazzik]

Even the best drivers ,young or old, can lose concentration  as they grow weary.

No... no Lord V, not me, not us!
One of the main problems regarding road safety is the overconfidence of road users.

Most of us seem to consider ourselves excellent drivers. But all those others around us... they make such terribly stupid mistakes!

So guys: we have to accept all those driver aids and remember that they aren't even helpful for us, only annoying. But... they are for sure necessary for all those others! Those mediocre to bad drivers, that is.

[Downsizer]

My driving instructor (in 1959!) said “Always be prepared for what the other fool might do.

[Jazzik]

My driving instructor (in 1959!) said “Always be prepared for what the other fool might do.

So with that, he already confirmed my thesis back then.

[CB72]

My driving instructor (in 1959!) said “Always be prepared for what the other fool might do.

My driving instructor said "You idiot, what the f*** are you doing " 
You have to say that to yourself sometimes.

[Lord Voltermore]

My learner driver  instructor in 1970 grabbed the steering wheel and swerved the car to the other side of the road trying to kill a rat ! (he missed )    I like to think he regarded me as competent enough to cope  with the unexpected.   But I hadnt spotted the rat     He shouldnt have done it but it has improved my reaction  to unexpected steering twitches, and I normally spot small creatures in time to safely avoid them.

[Kremmen]

That sounds like what RDMS does