Nissan Must Think That Drivers Are Stupid
Somebody at Nissan had a not-so-bright idea with their upcoming ECO pedal feature. If activated, ECO pedal could put you in harm's way with no way to avoid an accident.
It is bad enough that the federal government wants to dictate every facet of our driving lives with third brake lights, side impact restraint systems, and the like mandatory equipment in most of our vehicles today. The Nanny State is here, but now we have at least one automaker deciding we need a little extra help from them too.
Last week, Nissan announced that the “ECO pedal” would soon be available on its cars, a feature that pushes the accelerator back when pressing down rapidly. Sensors can detect when you “floor it” something drivers must do from time to time in order to get out of a bad situation fast. But for Nissan, the thinking from them is that you want to increase your gas mileage by five to ten percent and would welcome this feature.
Count me among those who definitely thinks that the ECO pedal is a really dumb idea.
According to the USA Today article, “Nissan says the system is designed to help drivers become more fuel efficient behind the wheel. Part of the company’s strategy for reducing carbon dioxide emissions is modifying driving behavior.”
Excuse me? You want to modify my behavior? Um, I haven’t received a driving ticket in more than two decades and, even if I were a lousy driver, I don’t need help deciding how I will operate my car. There are too many gizmos and gadgets in cars today as it is. Give me something that will enhance my driving experience and figure out another way to lower CO2 without putting me in harm’s way.
In contrast, drivers can opt to turn this feature off which I would hope that everyone would want to do — when you need sudden, maximum acceleration you have no time to to think about turning off a system that will actually fight against you. Your safety and that of your passengers and other drivers could be at risk.
Nissan could open itself up to lawsuits if a driver can prove that Eco Pedal contributed to an accident. In no way should any car limit a driver’s ability to exercise full control over its operation. Eco Pedal should never see the light of day, but if it does it needs to be deactivated upon vehicle delivery.
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- World first eco pedal helps reduce fuel consumption - Automobiles Review
- Every Drop Counts: Nissan to Equip Cars with Fuel Efficient ECO Pedals : Gas 2.0
- Nissan’s ECO Pedal pushes back during acceleration » Coolest Gadgets
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August 6th, 2008 at 8:52 am
The days of “floor it!” are gone. I could actually see having a “fuel effeciency education mode” with an on/off switch. If you want to practice high mpg driving, turn it on and it will talk to you, push back on the pedal, give you a report at the end of the drive. Then you can turn it off.
xmarkss last blog post..John McCain’s Straight Talk left behind inflating tires
August 6th, 2008 at 9:45 am
xmarks, it is just that Nissan thinks that we need this feature and that there is some real benefit to it. They’re not including “Eco Pedal” for our benefit, rather to help them beat tighter federal CO2 restrictions.
I will not jeopardize my family’s safety by driving any car that hinders my ability to exert full control.
August 6th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
it’s the we know what’s right for you.you do not!
mike golchs last blog post..A prayer Request
August 6th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
That’s a good way to put it, Mike. Nissan and some other car manufacturers are robbing us of the driving experience, even putting people in harm’s way.
I’ll have none of that.