Honda Car Warns You If Your Driving Style Is Likely to Cause Traffic Jams

God bless the engineer that reduces or stops tail gating.

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Science sees no further than what it can sense, i.e. facts.
Religion sees beyond the senses, i.e. faith.
Open your mind and see!

Finally! Finally! Oh GOD thank you!
Finally someone is doing something about those idiot drivers!
Thank you Honda!

Don't you guys read The Onion? Just honk!

"onboard terminal encourages the driver to correct his or her behaviors"

The key word here is encourages. The kind of drivers that are causing the problem are the kind of drivers that will ignore the onboard terminal.

In cities where traffic congestion is a problem, drivers are more aggressive. Aggressive drivers don't like other cars getting in front of them, so they tailgate. They also believe the car in front of them will go faster if they tailgate (I like to troll tailgaters by slowing down).

Sorry, I think aggressive drivers are going to drive aggressively regardless of the onboard terminal's encouragement.

That being said, I have never driven in Japan or Indonesia. Perhaps they have a stronger sense social ethics than people here in the United States. If that is the case, this system may reduce congestion there.

Well there's the cause of the traffic jams "I like to troll tailgaters by slowing down". When 1 person hits their brakes, the person behind does and the next and the next. It cascades down the line and slows everybody down.

This is why people drive aggressively. People are annoyed with drivers that drive slowly and specially in the fast lane. They just want to get around and go. And that's when they get aggressive.

Instead of just moving over to the next lane, you slow them down? That would be a ticket on the autobahn for not moving over for. And it's called impeding traffic in North America and that would also be a ticket if the cops would enforce it.

That's why I always drive with a dash cam.

I drive this way in traffic all the time. (mostly cause I don't like "gas to brake, gas to brake" driving..hehe) The problem is you leave that open space in front of you, and it gets filled up with people jockeying for position. So your back on the brakes.. Sigh.

We need less people on the highway or smarter cars.. I won't ask for the impossible (smarter drivers)

I do this already, with lots of coasting. The main problems, as mentioned, are the a-holes riding your a$$ and the morons cutting you off because they are hell bent on being in the fastest lane when there isn't one.

I do think it helps at times to let lots of people in too, it prevents them from coming to a full stop at the last minute a mile down the road, making it even worse.

Also, why is it that when someone gets in a BMW they instantly become the a--hole?

If everyone just applied the basic concept of using the left lane as a passing lane ONLY instead of thinking they own it, it would greatly reduce congestion. In defense of the "tailgater", he or she is just trying to pass. I was on my way to the hospital once with a severly injured co-worker when someone with democedes' mentality decided they had the right to play god and slow me down. Not everyone is just an idiot "tailgater", and its not up to us to decide if he/she(the tailgater) has a legitimate reason to be trying to pass us. I believe its our duty to just move out of the PASSING LANE and let someone by. Sorry demo... but its people like you that this new invention is trying to instruct... now if they could only invent a way to safely boot the slow poke out of the passing lane I'd be all over that.

Today's magic is tomorrow's technology.

@robot.... god bless the cop that fines the slow driver who thinks he owns the passing lane. Lead, follow, or GET OUT OF THE WAY!

Today's magic is tomorrow's technology.

One last thought... an ENFORCED minimum speed limit assigned to each lane would solve alot of this.

Today's magic is tomorrow's technology.

Some idiotic Americans would not like this...you have to appeal to them. A good idea just won't make it anymore.

There is no such lane, on any freeway, known as the 'fast lane'. There are driving lanes, and a PASSING LANE. Keep right except to pass.

Maintaining assured clear distance is what this software helps a driver do, something all good drivers do already.

When traffic slows to a crawl, drop back from the vehicles in front of you, simply letting off the gas instead of hitting the break works wonders for traffic behind you. Works great! Something I do naturally.

I just like to toss this brain storm out there.
What if a smart computer or smart software kept track of your speed and could see the car in front of you. What if combine with it knowing constantly and in advance speed, it just keeps the car a certain distance away from the car in front of it. If it senses you getting to close, it just gently pulls you back...

Would that work, stop tail gating, and not cause any safety issues? Are there any negative draw backs to this from a safety perspective?

.............................
Science sees no further than what it can sense, i.e. facts.
Religion sees beyond the senses, i.e. faith.
Open your mind and see!

problem???

Well, the problem with that, robot, ;) is that if you do want to pass someone who is moving slower than the speed limit and they are in the "passing lane" permanently lol, then your never going to pass them... the slow driver in front of you will feel no reason to yield the right of way to a car who doesnt seem in any more of a hurry than he/she is... since your vehicle will not let you tailgate in the least bit. But no new tech or law is required IMHO.... I just dont understand why an unspoken rule (which is just common sense courtesy to begin with)which has served us so well for so long, suddenly doesnt work anymore. I mean, its not brain surgery OR rocket science... its a passing lane. And yeah i know thats not what this article is about so... we're just f@rtin in the wind anyways.

Today's magic is tomorrow's technology.

GGenua,
You make a good point. I often have drivers in front of me in the left lane, pacing the car to the right at the exact same speed, blocking all traffic behind them. After a while, it becomes obvious they are doing this on purpose. At this moment they have the power of blocking traffic and I guess in their mind, they use it to slow everyone down.

So what happens typically now? A contest begins, the aggressive driver behind them rides high on their tale, extremely close. But, it just not one car making the contest, it is a line of cars really close to each other, all in the left lane. Then the unpredictable happens and an accident occurs that involves a pile up of cars. These accidents many times are so bad, they make national news.

I often see this type of driving and trains of close cars on the highway often.

I suppose my brainstorm above would give more power to the intentionally slow driver in the left lane pacing the car to the right. Yes it would be annoying too. Still in real practicality towards safety it would save lives. No you argument does not change my mind. Tail gating is dangerous and I prefer a solution to stop it.

Besides, we still have the option to flash our lights and ask the person in front to move. This does work many times too.

This is a little off topic, but towards safety. With all modern cars having computers inside of them, I like to see all cars maximum speed to be limited to 20mph above the maximum speed in the state or 90mph, whichever is less.

Sure, I know people love the 'idea' of maximum speed with their car, but it only leads increases in loss of life and property. It really has no practical purpose.

.............................
Science sees no further than what it can sense, i.e. facts.
Religion sees beyond the senses, i.e. faith.
Open your mind and see!

Robot: That is a really good idea, but how will you sell it to the public? The problem >:( is that people don't like change and think their way is the best way...

Some speedy people will want to go street race and protest the "maximum speed computer." How will you tell them that your idea would save their life? They are only enlightened when they get into an accident and affect other people's lives as well.

Robot, how will you solve the problem?

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We progress only at the rate of the slowest

Yesterday in Omaha a babysitter on the way to the hospital after one of the children she was in charge of was hit by a car was in an accident in which she was killed.

You are not entitled, or should you be, to go as fast as you like just because you are taking someone to the hospital. Oh, by the way, the child hit by the car had only minor injuries and was safely taken by ambulance to the hospital.

The solution to keep other drivers from filling up your safe/smart gap in front of your car is to post a sign on the back of your vehicle saying something like "Do not pass, my brakes are not working" It also helps keep someone from going around you and parking at a red light that you have timed to get to as it turns green.

@dalekaup: *insert trollface* very nice lol...

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We progress only at the rate of the slowest

Note to all... notice i never said that i wanted to exceed the speed limit. But i do want to ask if a loved one was in serious trouble, and your driving, if anyone in this discussion would NOT exceed the limit a little. My complaint is with a driver who is using the left (passing) lane as his personal transport system AND at slower than the posted speed limit. If you want to drive slower then the speed limit then keep to the right. Its very simple. And in so doing, if i come up on you in the right lane doing the speed limit and your cruising along at less than the speed limit i can easily move to the left, pass, and move back into the right "through" lane once again when its safe to do so. But when there are slow drivers in the passing lane that whole system breaks down. And THATS when you get tailgating and congestion AND accidents. The left lane is intended for PASSING... not cruising in. There is NO NEED for anyone to drive under the limit, or otherwise, in a passing lane. Its laziness... Lazy drivers who dont feel like making the effort to look around you..put your left bilnker on, pass, put your right blinker on, merge back to the right. Its just too much work. Put it on cruise and everyone gets there when i do right? lol. Believe me robot, I cant wait for the day when i can hop into a fully automated vehicle and say "Take me to work!", and off it goes in the safest most optimal method that technology can contrive. But until then... keep right unless you wanna pass.
P.S. anyone hear about the supercruise in the new cadillacs? Yeah... hands free! Not only keeps your speed constant but it keeps you in your lane! This should do wonders for cadillacitis sufferers!!! Sarcasm definately intended.

Today's magic is tomorrow's technology.

TEHGAME,
Make is a law for manufactures of auto to incorporate this speed limiting into the computer electronics of the car. Those who tamper with the circuits and remove it and drive in excess speeds will be punished heavily. Obviously the law has to make sense, be voted on and approved.

.............................
Science sees no further than what it can sense, i.e. facts.
Religion sees beyond the senses, i.e. faith.
Open your mind and see!

How would the car know what the speed limit is? Yeah, you could put transponders on the posted speed limit signs. That will cost $$$ and it'll cost more $$ to replace when the speed limit changes.

Lets just use the tried and tested method. Don't sit in the passing(left) lane. This way you can't complain about people tailgating.

If you're not the solution then you're the problem.

To all of you complaining about "tailgaters", I've got news for you. The right lane is for your slow ass. The left is a passing lane unless there is a left exit within sight. If you are having people pass you on the right, then you are in the wrong! I don't care what you people think of speed limits and the like. Those laws are only truly applicable to commercial entities and not individuals. Unfortunately, they have gotten most of you to conflate your human existence for a corporation. The reality is that putting up speed limits is about as legal as making laws against people running.

There can be no crime without criminal intent, however, there can be damage and that damage must be recompensed. Don't confuse civil restitution with criminal conviction.

Anyway, it is pretty obvious that the best way to get rid of traffic jams on the highway is to get all the police off of the shoulders of the highway. How many of you have come up on a congested area of the road just to pass a cop on the side 5 minutes later and then the road opens back up like normal? Happens to me every other day. I'd like to find the guy who came up with the "more cops, more stops" commercials and knock his damn teeth out.

@ Robot... WOW! Apparently you want to control people! Do you not abide by any type of ethics that guarantees people the rights to personal property? If you own a car, then you should be allowed to do whatever you want with YOUR CAR! I'm sick of sycophants like you who think they know best for everyone else.

I'm not so sure this is the behaviour-problem that needs to be corrected. In fact, Honda might be doing the right thing, but the picture doesn't describe it fairly. In my experience traffic jams happen because inexperienced drivers use the brakes too hard, not because others tailgate. A 'safe distance' at the maximum speed limit is not and should not be the same distance when crawling in a traffic jam.
Some think it's better to crawl 50m behind the other car to minimise breaking and set a pace. What if we all crawl at 50m? 20 cars > 1km!?
It might be better if some lanes are not used by drivers until they get to a certain driving skill. We all share the same speed limits because some of us are poor drivers and others have "cans-on-wheels" for cars. I don't think that's fair.

SgtB,
No you can't do anything with your car you want. Wake up, this is reality. Driving is a priviledge and we have laws. My last comment above also included, "...Obviously the law has to make sense, be voted on and approved...". Yes, I live in the real world of laws and democracy, do you?!

.............................
Science sees no further than what it can sense, i.e. facts.
Religion sees beyond the senses, i.e. faith.
Open your mind and see!

Won't work.

And here is why. I try to leave an opening between me and the next car ahead, every single time some idiot thinks that space if for them to slide into. If my car slowed by itself each time someone slid in to the space my car would come to a stop.

I am (normally) one of the more courteous drivers out there. I usually drive at the speed limit +5 mph. If I am in the left lane passing and I see a car coming up behind me, I will speed up to get out of their way (even though it puts me into ticket range).

However, if I get tailgated; and by tailgated I mean literally 3 feet bumper to bumper at 80mph; I will slowly decelerate until they back off or pass.

The entire time, I will have a trolala song on my lips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUaYbfKZIiA
(I need to rig a button on my steering wheel to cue this song on demand)

You see, nothing brings joy to my heart like trolling a tailgater. As they pass, I will smile and wave, "Thank you". Their rude gestures and red faces are food for my soul.

Happy motoring folks!

Americans love their country sooooo much they refuse, in great quantities, to respect their fellow citizens.

Way to go patriotic hypocrites!

@democedes

We're not asking you to speed and risk getting a ticket. We're asking you to move over so that we can pass. If you didn't get the wink wink nudge nudge before, I'll say it in a way you can understand. People like you are part of the problem. You enjoy pissing people off. As evident from your statement:

"You see, nothing brings joy to my heart like trolling a tailgater. As they pass, I will smile and wave, "Thank you". Their rude gestures and red faces are food for my soul."

Well lets hope you don't piss off the wrong person. Instead of of a rude gesture, they may pull out a gun. People have gotten into fights, intentional crashes and shot at

@antaro "We're asking you to move over so that we can pass."

If I am in the left lane, I am passing. When I am done I get over.

@antaro "You enjoy pissing people off."

Tailgaters are bullies. They threaten you with two tons of steel. I delight in pissing *bullies* off. Big difference. I am extremely polite and courteous to everyone else.

@antaro "People like you are part of the problem."

I am a problem to tailgaters only. There is no one behind them when I slow down. If you don't like it... don't tailgate me.

@antaro "Well lets hope you don't piss off the wrong person."

Are you a man or a mouse? I do not cower before bullies.

Follow me at a (relatively) safe distance or suffer my... attempt to annoy you.

See you on the freeway!

If that's your attitude then good luck with that.

Man or mouse is irrelevant. It's not your job. I'm a person that uses my head. If you cause a confrontation, it could affect others on the road. Then you're as much at fault as the aggressive driver. That's why there are Highway Patrol. Report speeders and aggressive drivers. They'll get their dues.

@antaro "It's not your job."

I thought I made it abundantly clear that this is done purely for my own entertainment.

@antaro "If you cause a confrontation, it could affect others on the road. Then you're as much at fault as the aggressive driver."

So, if he starts shooting people, I go to prison for murder because I annoyed him? Sorry, each individual is responsible for their own actions.

It is interesting that of all the bad behavior that occurs on the roadway, that this is what you choose take exception to.

well well well everyone.... what a fine argument we've all gotten ourselves into. I just need to ask one question.... I have the privilage to drive.... i earned it with safe, responsible and skillful driving for over 30 years.... now... within the bounds of this privilage.... dont I have the right to pass? and if i do then how do you suppose i do that after i've flashed my lights and blared my horn while I'm still two or three car lengths behind the owner of the left lane? and they refuse to move over? even after they have made their snail's paced pass of another even slowwwweeeerrr car thats in the right lane? I'm gonna get closer to show him/her that i REALYY! REALLY! wanna pass.. oh please please let me!.. sigh. So we go from the privilaged respectable driver alll the way to brutish bully tailgater? All because i wanna pass? Oh I see its HOW i wanna pass... by tailgating and "intimidating"... so what do you people want a special delivery message??? Doesnt someone behind you ... CLOSING IN ON YOU indicate that its TIME to move??? Thats the law ya know... slower traffic keep right... ya know? Of course they're gonna end up on your tail!!! Whats a poor tailgater to do?? So.. they throw me a finger if i managed to get around them on the right, making things less safe by the way, or maybe a dirty look in the mirror as they finally do move as if you disturbed them out of their sleep. It just dont seem right to me... all you tailgate bashers just need to stop with the ego trippin napoleon syndrome need for control as is demo's case... mostly i think its laziness.. just to reiterate irately. They graciously gave me the privilage to drive... AND a passing lane... and i wanna pass... but... democedes sez i cant so... I'm going to exit this conversation now and live with it.

Today's magic is tomorrow's technology.

my roomate's aunt makes $83/hr on the laptop. She has been without work for 8 months but last month her pay was $8682 just working on the laptop for a few hours. Read more on this site...NuttyRich.com

Instead of just warning you, the computer should actually adjust the speed to reduce congestion or improve safety as needed. For example the computer can apply the brakes faster than most people can react to a problem they see up ahead. And the computer can increase the speed as needed to get past a slower car in the next lane when there is enough space up ahead.

GGenua,
Interesting venting on your part, I can understand your pain. And still safely must always come first, which gives the slow driver in the left lane the ultimate power... Arg, drat it all!

Technology could limit the speed of the cars to the posted highway sign, but the poor state would lose all those taxes in speeding fines.

They could even raise the speed limit after all the complaints protest of the force limiting speed of the cars. But we still have the problem of fewer taxes for the states. Oh, I think the states will get their way for taxes and always allow the average typical driver to speed above the legal limit. They have too; it is in their own best interest to collect those taxes.

So GGenua, you and others like you, will ultimately win. Do not worry. The state tax collect and the police adore you!

.............................
Science sees no further than what it can sense, i.e. facts.
Religion sees beyond the senses, i.e. faith.
Open your mind and see!