US safety regulations make it difficult to automakers to add adaptive headlights(cnn.com)
cnn.com
US safety regulations make it difficult to automakers to add adaptive headlights
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/15/cars/headlights-tech-adaptable-high-beams-cars/index.html
80 comments
I don't see super great at night and it seems to me like every other car has its high beams on. I don't bother flashing because they either don't know or the cars are just shitty and that how bright the low beams are. Fucking dangerous honestly. In the US, not so much as there are next to zero pedestrians, however I live in Europe, and just last night had to mash the brakes after seeing an old man with walking canes emerge from the glare of an oncoming cars lights right in front of me while doing 70kph on a country road. Shit is fucking dangerous, and I don't think pedestrians realize how invisible they are, even when a driver is paying full attention.
> just last night had to mash the brakes after seeing an old man with walking canes emerge from the glare of an oncoming cars lights right in front of me while doing 70kph on a country road.
You should always adapt your speed to the prevailing conditions. 70pkh on a country road after dark is fast at the best of times, but combined with “I don’t see great at night” is grounds to reconsider your driving habits.
If you had happened to hit that old man with cane, it would have been 100% you at fault both legally and morally, and depending on the outcomes, that’s jail time.
You should always adapt your speed to the prevailing conditions. 70pkh on a country road after dark is fast at the best of times, but combined with “I don’t see great at night” is grounds to reconsider your driving habits.
If you had happened to hit that old man with cane, it would have been 100% you at fault both legally and morally, and depending on the outcomes, that’s jail time.
My biggest concern is the existing vehicles on the road with illegal bulb conversions, poorly aimed headlights or just inexplicably driving around with the high beams on.
> inexplicably driving around with the high beams on.
It's not inexplicable, it's the "fuck you, I got mine", "I'm the most important person on the road". It's the same attitude that people will be in a line of cars and they'll pull out to get two or three cars ahead, or just bully their way ahead, because it's obviously more important that they get where they're going than you do.
It's not inexplicable, it's the "fuck you, I got mine", "I'm the most important person on the road". It's the same attitude that people will be in a line of cars and they'll pull out to get two or three cars ahead, or just bully their way ahead, because it's obviously more important that they get where they're going than you do.
Yaya, its always the other car drivers, that are evil. ;)
Here, Headlights are automatic. Imho a matrix LED is at work. And it illuminates wonderfully the surroundings and helped avoiding physical contact with animals, that might have crossed the street. Sometimes, on bumby roads, i get the occasional flashing back to me, or on Autobahn some trucks are bothered by the light. If true or light is only brighter than usual, i can not judge. These things are registered, so i hope they are just brighter than usual.
Here, Headlights are automatic. Imho a matrix LED is at work. And it illuminates wonderfully the surroundings and helped avoiding physical contact with animals, that might have crossed the street. Sometimes, on bumby roads, i get the occasional flashing back to me, or on Autobahn some trucks are bothered by the light. If true or light is only brighter than usual, i can not judge. These things are registered, so i hope they are just brighter than usual.
I have a new Audi that has all that (in the US). It's disabled, but with an OBD tool you can enable it. In about 18 months I've only had someone flash back at me once, maybe twice, so I assume it's doing alright, perhaps.
I notice it most in the country headed to our farm. It's great, I just hate having to explain to the audi dealer why It's enabled every service. They get it but I know they'll pull some warranty BS should something happen.
Thankfully the dealership near me has been good.
I had an issue where I noticed that keyless entry wasn't working though the fob had new batteries (and was the same with both fobs), nor the "welcome" lighting, and it seemed like the cellular modem was booting up every time. I have a few alterations via OBDeleven, but nothing I thought would mess with that (some lighting stuff, minimize the seat belt chirps, etc.). I forgot to unplug it and when the dealer came up to me and mentioned "Oh, you have ..." I thought the same as you, ah, crap, they're going to blame that, or charge me a diagnostics fee. They just asked what I might have done and asked my permission to wipe anything should the tech think it was necessary.
It ended up just being a faulty battery, so the car was shutting down "non-essential" systems to save energy.
I had an issue where I noticed that keyless entry wasn't working though the fob had new batteries (and was the same with both fobs), nor the "welcome" lighting, and it seemed like the cellular modem was booting up every time. I have a few alterations via OBDeleven, but nothing I thought would mess with that (some lighting stuff, minimize the seat belt chirps, etc.). I forgot to unplug it and when the dealer came up to me and mentioned "Oh, you have ..." I thought the same as you, ah, crap, they're going to blame that, or charge me a diagnostics fee. They just asked what I might have done and asked my permission to wipe anything should the tech think it was necessary.
It ended up just being a faulty battery, so the car was shutting down "non-essential" systems to save energy.
The doors drive me nuts. Sometimes the knobs react on the touch, sometimes they don't. Also changed batteries in the fob, but no behaviour change.
The most reliable way I've found to deal with that (I agree) is to not grasp the handle, but slide your hand down vertically on the inside and then grasp. Especially if wet.
Auto high beam is disabled? Why? My silly Kia has it as an option (by default, using the stick to turn on “high beams” turns on auto high beam.
It seems to work pretty good, maybe not quite as fast as I am but it even turns down when it sees a car ahead going the same way.
It seems to work pretty good, maybe not quite as fast as I am but it even turns down when it sees a car ahead going the same way.
No, adaptive matrix headlights are equipped but disabled. Auto high beam is standard.
May I ask how you enabled it through OBD? Would love to enable it on mine too.
There was a recent post here about a study that concluded all sociopaths play their music without headphones in public.
I suspect that they also drive around with their high beams on too.
I suspect that they also drive around with their high beams on too.
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Is it really the high beams? Headlights do blind me and it's no exaggeration. US roads are so poorly lit that the headlights at this point create too much contrast and I would consider them a hazard, and for some reason they keep getting brighter every year.
Quite often yes.
It’s easy to tell on common older vehicles that have separate high beams.
It’s pretty common that people do this with one low-beam out, but blinding everyone to avoid a fix-it ticket is annoying.
Headlights haven’t gotten much brighter, many LED equipped vehicles actually put out less than a really good Xenon from a decade ago, but they have a cooler color temp. Also, lower priced vehicles with LEDs don’t often have the self-adjusting leveling systems that are/were common when HIDs were only available as an expensive option or on pricey cars.
Combing Xenon-like or exceeding brightness, cooler temp (appears brighter to human eye), a lack of self-leveling with poor factory alignment and you get our current situation.
It’s easy to tell on common older vehicles that have separate high beams.
It’s pretty common that people do this with one low-beam out, but blinding everyone to avoid a fix-it ticket is annoying.
Headlights haven’t gotten much brighter, many LED equipped vehicles actually put out less than a really good Xenon from a decade ago, but they have a cooler color temp. Also, lower priced vehicles with LEDs don’t often have the self-adjusting leveling systems that are/were common when HIDs were only available as an expensive option or on pricey cars.
Combing Xenon-like or exceeding brightness, cooler temp (appears brighter to human eye), a lack of self-leveling with poor factory alignment and you get our current situation.
Exactly — It's not about the LEDs, it's about the degree and adjustment. Especially coming from a high pickup or SUV while sitting in a sedan within low distance like in city driving.
Yes, exactly, I'm driving a compact and I often need to wear sunglasses at night.
Based on my strongly negative experience with automatic high beams (2019 Honda Ridgeline), I'm very dubious that smart headlights will hit the intended target, much less continue to do so as the vehicle's hardware ages.
Though I wouldn’t extend this experience to all smart lights, I’ll agree that Honda’s auto highbeams implementation on my 2018 Civic is a disappointment. I especially hate that it toggles by flashing high beams (a feature I recently figured out how to disable), so even if you turn it off it’ll rear its head when you need to flash someone.
The auto high beams in my 2019 Toyota RAV4 work flawlessly, they’ll shut off with oncoming traffic or bright enough street lighting.
Low beams are dangerous? Not really the focus of the article but that's a baffling statement to me. Like, sure, of course more light is better but unless your lights aren't adjusted correctly, they're good? Great, even? I don't feel the need to blast my high beams into people's windows when driving down a lit residential street. That's weird and rude.
Does anyone know if these headlight technologies are used in Australia? If it's responsible for people no longer bothering to turn off their high beams when noticing other drivers' headlights shining over a hill or around a corner (and now blinding others) then nah keep that rubbish off the roads. Maybe having warmer temperature lights would lessen the impact of these high beams being blasted into my skull?
Old man yells at cloud, and it's me. I would just like my young, astigmatism-free eyes to not be burned so I can actually drive at night again lol.
People have been waiting for the FDA (?) to update several regulations around products used in make up for years while other parts of the world are a bit better on keeping up with that stuff. I just think that's interesting, on the topic of regulations.
Does anyone know if these headlight technologies are used in Australia? If it's responsible for people no longer bothering to turn off their high beams when noticing other drivers' headlights shining over a hill or around a corner (and now blinding others) then nah keep that rubbish off the roads. Maybe having warmer temperature lights would lessen the impact of these high beams being blasted into my skull?
Old man yells at cloud, and it's me. I would just like my young, astigmatism-free eyes to not be burned so I can actually drive at night again lol.
People have been waiting for the FDA (?) to update several regulations around products used in make up for years while other parts of the world are a bit better on keeping up with that stuff. I just think that's interesting, on the topic of regulations.
> Low beams are dangerous? Not really the focus of the article but that's a baffling statement to me. Like, sure, of course more light is better but unless your lights aren't adjusted correctly, they're good? Great, even? I don't feel the need to blast my high beams into people's windows when driving down a lit residential street. That's weird and rude.
They're definitely dangerous when you're on an unlit county road with deer-inhabited woods on either side.
They're definitely dangerous when you're on an unlit county road with deer-inhabited woods on either side.
No they're not. Driving faster than your light coverage is what's dangerous. You can drive on low beams all your life if you slow down.
Not quite. Since we are talking about wildlife, you have to remember that the kangaroo does not respect your speed limit and may be approaching at 50km/h. You can avoid the mobs if you can spot them at a distance.
I’ve been hit by deer twice (and the same happened to my mom in my car). I’ve never hit a deer. Also, driving slower than other people is even more dangerous.
Why would I slow down so I can use my low beams when I can just use my high beams to go the speed limit?
Why would I slow down so I can use my low beams when I can just use my high beams to go the speed limit?
I live in regional Australia. About half the roads I drive on are unlit, many are unmarked and have no bike lines/shoulder, and I'm surrounded by bush. We have roos instead of deer. Of course you'd be nuts to not use your high beams for that. Did I need to state that explicitly? My comment questioning low beams being dangerous was in opposition to the article's advocating for 'always on' high beams which is just not necessary and is extremely irritating in my admittedly unscientific opinion.
And on the flipside, low beams (and incandescents) are way safer than high beams (and modern LEDs) on the expressway, where the purpose of lights is to be seen as much or moreso than to see.
As a german trust me, the regulations are a good thing. When I drive at night, there are so many cars in oncoming traffic that dazzle you with their led headlights
You these automatic ones are terrible. Fundamentally they tone down after they see your headlights which is too late.
Especially when you stick your head over an hill top.
I think they should be banned, as a traffic danger.
Especially when you stick your head over an hill top.
I think they should be banned, as a traffic danger.
These kinds of regulations need to have an extra clause saying:
> Any other design of headlight not meeting the above requirements is allowed, so long as the car manufacturer's vehicles, over the previous year, have been involved in fewer incidents than the national average.
Basically, all safety related rules shouldn't apply to you if you can demonstrate your products are safer than the rest of the industry. Same for brakes, airbags, seatbelts, etc.
That will push safety innovation far harder than rigid rules would.
> Any other design of headlight not meeting the above requirements is allowed, so long as the car manufacturer's vehicles, over the previous year, have been involved in fewer incidents than the national average.
Basically, all safety related rules shouldn't apply to you if you can demonstrate your products are safer than the rest of the industry. Same for brakes, airbags, seatbelts, etc.
That will push safety innovation far harder than rigid rules would.
This is how you get a Boeing.
I mean Boeing isn't safer than the competitor, so wouldn't be allowed to use this clause...
Alberta is heavily populated with pickups, many decades old (no rust or emissions checks). Their headlights are high up and poorly aimed. The SUVs are newer and better aimed.
Another factor is that plastic headlight housings cloud up and over vigorous polishing will change the optics.
Another factor is that plastic headlight housings cloud up and over vigorous polishing will change the optics.
This seems stupid. The better solution would be to adopt the EU's version today and require the improvements in 4-5 years.
I would just like for people to get pulled over for the blinding illegal LED headlight conversions
At this point they're so common that I think they're not even the conversions, it's just manufacturers putting in lights that are misaimed, too bright, or it's the fact that many pickup trucks have hoods at my standing eye level.
At least when I see the underglow LEDs I think "ha that's kinda cute, wonder when he's getting pulled over". Those don't bother me as much.
At least when I see the underglow LEDs I think "ha that's kinda cute, wonder when he's getting pulled over". Those don't bother me as much.
Actually here's a thing. Our new car, a fairly humble model, nonetheless comes with projector headlights that have a sharp divide between "very bright" and "dark" about halfway up to the rear windows of the car in front. That's if the car is perfectly level. But load it up for a Christmas trip, with the kids in the back seat and the trunk packed full, and it's ever so slightly off level, and over a distance low enough to still blind, will move that light/dark dividing line up to window level.
And there's nothing we can do about it. The aim of the lights can't be adjusted. Unintended consequences.
On the other hand, why do we have a new car? Because the old one got written off. Why? Because one of those gigantic SUVs whose hood is at about chest level, with way bright headlights was tailgating and blinding the spouse from behind so she pulled over to let it pass. Only to have the driver lose control (it was winter with some ice/snow on the road) and hit her on the rear corner. If it wasn't for those high-mounted, blinding lights none of this would have happened.
And there's nothing we can do about it. The aim of the lights can't be adjusted. Unintended consequences.
On the other hand, why do we have a new car? Because the old one got written off. Why? Because one of those gigantic SUVs whose hood is at about chest level, with way bright headlights was tailgating and blinding the spouse from behind so she pulled over to let it pass. Only to have the driver lose control (it was winter with some ice/snow on the road) and hit her on the rear corner. If it wasn't for those high-mounted, blinding lights none of this would have happened.
I’m not aware of a car with headlamps that can’t be adjusted.
Since headlamp alignment has a legal requirement to meet I don’t see how it could be road legal without adjustability.
That exact scenario is why I think self-adjusting headlamps which were standard on most Xenon equipped vehicles should be required for all HIDs whether Xenon or LED.
Since headlamp alignment has a legal requirement to meet I don’t see how it could be road legal without adjustability.
That exact scenario is why I think self-adjusting headlamps which were standard on most Xenon equipped vehicles should be required for all HIDs whether Xenon or LED.
They’re adjustable - but unless they’re auto-adjusting, nobody is going to take the time to adjust for every weight load and distribution.
However, if it’s noticeable you probably should have it adjusted or the rear ride stiffened.
However, if it’s noticeable you probably should have it adjusted or the rear ride stiffened.
My Subaru ascent actually has a headlight leveling feature. I was hauling sacks of chicken feed the other day, and the headlights automatically "lowered", with an icon on the dash indicating as much
You have to look closely but without blinding yourself!
I see three major categories of blinding lights on the roads in California:
New cars that are really bright and with appropriate beam shape/cut-offs, but annoying on hills or because of the taller cars you mentioned.
New or not-so-old cars where the driver is using the wrong light settings. That is fog lights and/or high-beams in inappropriate conditions or sometimes the opposite: somehow having daytime running LEDs at night instead of proper headlight activation.
The aftermarket retrofits which have none of the appropriate beam shape/cut-offs or projection. This can be a bit like the daytime running LEDs above in being diffuse but much brighter and often obviously anachronistic on some older car I know is from the basic halogen sealed-beam era. But it also includes trucks with various "offroad" lights being inappropriately activated on streets.
I see three major categories of blinding lights on the roads in California:
New cars that are really bright and with appropriate beam shape/cut-offs, but annoying on hills or because of the taller cars you mentioned.
New or not-so-old cars where the driver is using the wrong light settings. That is fog lights and/or high-beams in inappropriate conditions or sometimes the opposite: somehow having daytime running LEDs at night instead of proper headlight activation.
The aftermarket retrofits which have none of the appropriate beam shape/cut-offs or projection. This can be a bit like the daytime running LEDs above in being diffuse but much brighter and often obviously anachronistic on some older car I know is from the basic halogen sealed-beam era. But it also includes trucks with various "offroad" lights being inappropriately activated on streets.
Just checked my states laws. Underglow lights aren’t illegal, and also I can get them installed directly from the manufacturer.
I suspect legal headlights have just become harder on the eyes in general. To me older incandescent headlights seemed to have a yellower light coming from a much broader area.
Newer headlights seem to have the max lumens possible, much bluer/higher energy light, and from almost a point source.
Newer headlights seem to have the max lumens possible, much bluer/higher energy light, and from almost a point source.
In the past few years, police have mostly stopped enforcement of minor vehicle laws like window tint, blinding headlights, loud stereos, and illegal modifications. While some people are assholes, I suspect most people simply don't know how poorly aligned and blinding their headlights are. Maybe stores like AutoZone will start offering easy tests for customers to detect such issues.
AAA sometimes offers speedometer and headlight checks. It should be more common, as adjustment is only a few minutes if you know what you’re doing.
Insurance companies should encourage it.
Insurance companies should encourage it.
There was a lifted pickup truck that was stuck behind me on my road a couple times in the evening. Absolutely blinding headlights: my car was sharply outlined by their beams, which went on to light up the road far brighter than my brights ever could - the brightest lights I've ever been blinded by.
If they ever blinded an oncoming police car, my faith in humanity makes me hope they'd get pulled over...
If they ever blinded an oncoming police car, my faith in humanity makes me hope they'd get pulled over...
> Absolutely blinding headlights: my car was sharply outlined by their beams
I gradually slow down under such conditions of limited vision.
I gradually slow down under such conditions of limited vision.
But I need to keep up with the new generation of blinding legal headlights.
As far as I can tell the US doesn’t regulate cars at all. How else would these insane monster trucks and dangerous and barely tested “self driving” (into a fire truck) cars be allowed on the road?
In most states, cars themselves don't have many requirements/checks post-sale. Some states check that emissions equipment is still functioning, but because this is often done by third parties, cheating is rampant. Still some states require safety inspections, but that is far in the minority.
ADAS systems are mostly legal because they are officially "assistance" systems, and the driver is still responsible for whatever the vehicle does. There is exactly one commercially non-assistance "self driving" system that I am aware of in the world, and it's made by Mercedes Benz, and is only operable in very specific situations. MB takes responsibility for what happens when the vehicle is operating in this mode.
ADAS systems are mostly legal because they are officially "assistance" systems, and the driver is still responsible for whatever the vehicle does. There is exactly one commercially non-assistance "self driving" system that I am aware of in the world, and it's made by Mercedes Benz, and is only operable in very specific situations. MB takes responsibility for what happens when the vehicle is operating in this mode.
I've lived in several states with annual safety/emissions inspections (VA, PA). Virginia certainly used to check the aim of headlights (30+ years ago), but probably don't any more. I imagine that the wide range of headlight designs today makes adjustment too complex for most inspectors to do, much less owners.
There's an entire agency dedicated to it: NHTSA issues the FMVSS.
You should see how hard it is to import any car that is not also produced for the US market.
What do you think happens in a non-self driving car wen the driver accelerated into a firetruck?
In that case, a person is 100% at fault for pressing the gas pedal, and there's a good chance that responsible party gets real consequences. In the Tesla case, there's a good chance that the meatbag is just a stooge and the algorithm gets to keep on driving.
That doesn’t generally happen with human drivers.
Whitney Houston drove her car into a transit bus.
> bicyclist by the side of the road can still be seen clearly while other drivers sharing the road can see, too.
Ahh yes, my absolute favorite thing, when I'm on my bike and drivers turn their highbeams on to see me better, putting me into a situation where I have to stop (which isn't really an option because I have no brakes on my bike) or continue forward on pure faith. Luckily I can cache like 8 seconds of road so it's usually fine, but it does make me want to ban cars even more than normal. While I'm at it, please ban super bright bike lights too, front and rear, they're so antisocial. Very cool that you can see at the expense of everyone around you.
Ahh yes, my absolute favorite thing, when I'm on my bike and drivers turn their highbeams on to see me better, putting me into a situation where I have to stop (which isn't really an option because I have no brakes on my bike) or continue forward on pure faith. Luckily I can cache like 8 seconds of road so it's usually fine, but it does make me want to ban cars even more than normal. While I'm at it, please ban super bright bike lights too, front and rear, they're so antisocial. Very cool that you can see at the expense of everyone around you.
> I have no brakes on my bike
You're riding in an environment where life threatening situations occur... without brakes?
Is that as unwise as it sounds, or is the situation not like that?
You're riding in an environment where life threatening situations occur... without brakes?
Is that as unwise as it sounds, or is the situation not like that?
Sure it is a silly thing to do, but the important point is that these headlights are intended to be hostile to all people who are not in cars, which makes this a harmful technology.
It is already unpleasant enough to be forced to be on or near a road or street at night where low beams are often aimed directly in the eyes of a person walking along a sidewalk.
No worries. Wonder if we'll get to the stage where people need to wear sunglasses at night? (like the old song phrase) ;)
why do you not have brakes on your bike?
Probably riding a fixie. But to me, basic common sense would imply that riding a bicycle on the road or even in a bike lane without brakes isn't a wise idea. (But also, of all the bicyclist stereotypes, the fixie rider would be the 'worst').
riding a bicycle without brakes isn't a wise idea
in some countries it's also illegal.
in some countries it's also illegal.
Heh the irony of someone riding an unroadworthy vehicle complaining about other unroadworthy vehicles.
For myself and 99.99% of other bikers out there who do use brakes, these headlights are still a massive problem. There's no world in which being completely blinded while riding at speed in traffic isn't a safety issue. Especially on a bike where it's up to you to anticipate and avoid careless drivers who will put thousands of pounds of vehicle into your path without a care for your life on a regular basis.
Also, if GP is indeed riding a fixed gear bike then they do have the ability to brake, it's just a different mechanism. Weird that they phrased it that way. Fixed gear bikes are more challenging to ride (kind of like a manual transmission vehicle) but are completely roadworthy in the hands of a competent rider.
Also, if GP is indeed riding a fixed gear bike then they do have the ability to brake, it's just a different mechanism. Weird that they phrased it that way. Fixed gear bikes are more challenging to ride (kind of like a manual transmission vehicle) but are completely roadworthy in the hands of a competent rider.
Track bikes don't have brakes. You don't need brakes on the track as the bikes are fixed gear without a freewheel, so you can brake by slowing down your pedaling. Stopping fast on the track can cause dangerous crashes, so velodromes typically ban brakes.
For reasons that are inscrutable to me, people ride track bikes—lacking brakes—on the streets. It's such a thing to the point where people will buy track-style bikes that include brakes and remove the brakes, even though they never ride at a velodrome.
For reasons that are inscrutable to me, people ride track bikes—lacking brakes—on the streets. It's such a thing to the point where people will buy track-style bikes that include brakes and remove the brakes, even though they never ride at a velodrome.
I can elucidate this for you. I ride a brakeless on the street because it changes the way I see the world. I rode with a brake for a long time, I made fun of people who rode without. I thought they were idiots, I thought they were harmful to society. One day I was "forced" (i could have just not ridden) to ride brakeless for a couple days, and those couple days have turned into 10+ years. I could not go back. Not having the option to just hit the brake forces you to be completely present, it changes the way you look at the world, that cannot be achieved in any other way. Riding brakeless on the streets is one of the most consistently joyous experiences I've ever felt.
For what it's worth, a well executed whip skid lets you stop in pretty much the same distance as someone hitting full front brake, and as someone who skids ambidextrously my maximum latency is about a 1/4 turn of the pedals (~1.5m). Though because I'm always planning unplanned stops I will already be starting skids every half pedal turn when coming to intersection or seeing a car that may be trying to back out of a driveway, so it's simply a matter of holding the skid rather than having to start one if something unexpected happens. However all this is largely moot since outside of bike party/other fun events I don't tend to skid at all, generally I will go through about one rear tire every year.
For what it's worth, a well executed whip skid lets you stop in pretty much the same distance as someone hitting full front brake, and as someone who skids ambidextrously my maximum latency is about a 1/4 turn of the pedals (~1.5m). Though because I'm always planning unplanned stops I will already be starting skids every half pedal turn when coming to intersection or seeing a car that may be trying to back out of a driveway, so it's simply a matter of holding the skid rather than having to start one if something unexpected happens. However all this is largely moot since outside of bike party/other fun events I don't tend to skid at all, generally I will go through about one rear tire every year.
NHTSA instead focuses its resources on forcing a draconian “recall” on Tesla to increase the font size of the brake icon.
I know these aren’t one and the same and they should be able to do two things at once, but there are choices being made about where to put resources.
I know these aren’t one and the same and they should be able to do two things at once, but there are choices being made about where to put resources.
Tesla is not a martyr, and what everyone saying things like this are doing is actually arguing for special treatment for Tesla.
Lincoln had a recall on my Navigator that resulted in them sending me two pieces of paper and saying "place these pages between page 165 and 166 of your user manual". The pages were related to something entirely benign, related to adjusting the seat for the captain's chairs in the second row.
Lincoln had a recall on my Navigator that resulted in them sending me two pieces of paper and saying "place these pages between page 165 and 166 of your user manual". The pages were related to something entirely benign, related to adjusting the seat for the captain's chairs in the second row.
> NHTSA instead focuses its resources on forcing a draconian “recall” on Tesla to increase the font size of the brake icon.
An update that probably took an engineer less than a day, and CI mere hours to build? The recall terminology is a little silly with an agile-ish developed product, but they really should have done it right the first time. It's not like the standard is hard to read. It probably only bubbled up to the top when someone who has designed these kinds of things in the past noticed it was out of spec, and complained.
An update that probably took an engineer less than a day, and CI mere hours to build? The recall terminology is a little silly with an agile-ish developed product, but they really should have done it right the first time. It's not like the standard is hard to read. It probably only bubbled up to the top when someone who has designed these kinds of things in the past noticed it was out of spec, and complained.
It was in every vehicle back to 2012... And was seen by every driver every day.
Hard to argue that this rule breaking is a problem when literally millions of people saw the rule breaking on literally billions of occasions before the violation was noticed.
Hard to argue that this rule breaking is a problem when literally millions of people saw the rule breaking on literally billions of occasions before the violation was noticed.
Generally the way that laws and rules work is that it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been breaking the rule or law, but when you get caught, you have to remedy the problem otherwise what’s the point?
Completely fair, but the fact that this “problem” was so ubiquitous for so long should be factored into the decision of whether or not to issue a recall. Recalls aren’t without negative consequences - huge effort and actual cost, opportunity cost of other things regulators could focus on, and the impact to what it means to the term “recall”.