Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
Those make sense.
Signaling your intentions to other drivers...reasonable.
Backup for park pawl/leaving in gear...reasonable.
Safety glass for when wrecks happen (they always will)...reasonable.
Needing a camera to pull off a basic driving function...dumb as [censored].
None of those required features make sense! Turn signals? Not needed, just signal with your hands like people used to do. Parking brake? Not needed, just park against a curb like people used to do. Safety glass? Not needed, just wear goggles with open windows like people used to do.
Obviously I'm being facetious here, but the point is that each of those items that most of us consider to be reasonable today were very much "cutting edge" or deemed unnecessary many years ago. Vehicle design requirements (and regulations) have evolved along with the design of the vehicles themselves. As closed cabins became more common, yes, turn signals were required. As glass became more common, yes, safety class was required. Enter the age of very stylized vehicles, often with vast blind spots (or jacked up trucks with large tailgates), and a driver assist is required.
Step on to any Army installation and observe a motor pool. Every tactical vehicle is backed-up with the aid of a human spotter. Heck, even when maneuvering AT ALL within a confined space, even going forwards, a spotter is used. It's because the blind spots on larger vehicles are often pretty large. We don't have spotters to help us out.
OTR truck drivers are trained to maneuver such vehicles, and in many cases (though not all), their area of operations is more open parking areas, warehouse areas, etc. OTR truck drivers are not usually faced with maneuvering around bouncing balls and kids at play, as many passenger car drivers are. But smaller trucks often have them. Take a look at the back of every Waste Management trash truck: there's a backup camera! That's because they often DO operate around other vehicles, other people, in neighborhoods and car parks, etc.
I think it's a little unfair to say that drivers should "be less stupid and actually drive". I'm not saying that anyone here actually said that, but that seems to be the sentiment of some. Drivers from 100 years ago would say that we're all a bunch of spoiled pansies, with our "electric start" cars and our "chokeless fuel injection" and our "solid state ignitions". Back then, they'd re-lap the valves on their flathead on a Friday evening after work. To those drivers who really did have to operate a machine, none of us are "real drivers".
I've become indifferent on the legislation piece. I was against this being a federal regulation, and still generally am. But I also agree that with the direction the vehicle styling is going, and with the increased general move towards more urbanized areas and crowded car parks, some type of driver assist is likely required. And having a buddy stand outside to spot you isn't always practical, especially when it's just you and your 5 year old.
