And with the same faulty thinking one does not "need" seatbelts, airbags, ABS, or any other safety features.

Please keep in mind that not everything that happens to you and your car are totally under your control.

Whether it is a sudden patch of unexpected black ice or soccer mom with her cellphone, 2.3 kids and dog barreling through the stop sign she "didn't see" in her van, there are times where every slight bit of advantage one can grab is nice to have.

 

Airbags along with seat belts are both designed to serve a purpose as a collision is taking place. VSC, ABS, and collision avoidance technology are used to help prevent an accident from occurring in the first place. If it makes you feel safe in your car then so be it. For me I think it is a complete load of BS that the government is making VSC a mandatory add on to all cars.

 

I think it's funny that people whine about VSC. Apparently those that do, haven't had it actually save them. I had VSC in my Saab and I could turn it off anytime I wanted to have fun in the snow, etc., but left it on the rest of the time. The video below is a really good example of how VSC can save your life, some of you guys need to check your ego at the door.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3m24bjkfg0

 

Thanks for the link to the video. It is a pretty decent exposition of some of the advantages (including that a VSC system operates the brake on each wheel separately, which is something that even the most fantastic driver in the world can't do...).

The problem with many of those who think they are fantastic drivers is that they are nowhere near as good in real life as they think they are.

I used to race (I was merely a driver - I couldn't afford my own car, but I was considered good enough for owners to offer me a ride), and consider myself a fairly decent driver, but I still prefer to have the newer electronic systems available for the everyday drive on public streets.

OF COURSE a good driver wouldn't usually want any of those systems on their race car if they were racing - those are the times when the advantage is taking 0.5% more risk than the other guy to win. Of course even the best crash...

Let me put it this way, even if I didn't like the idea of having a VSC system on my daily driver, and felt that it was some sort of insult for my car to be as good or better than I was at avoiding certain types of problems, I'd STILL want 99% of the other idiots out there to have it on THEIR cars to keep them from playing bumper cars with me...

 

Well put, Tomas.

 

I used to hear the same arguments some time ago for systems that were just coming out on cars like....

Three point seat belts. The argument used to be, "those thing are going to hang you, if they don't break your neck first." "I don't need no seat belt, cause I want to be thrown free."

Anti Lock Brakes. "I want my wheels to stop when I put on my brakes. I don't want no car controlling the brakes."

How about airbags? " Those damn things are going to go off in your face."

If I could look into my crystal ball, I see things mandated on cars in the future like the active head restraints on the xD today. I also see things like the active cruise control distance sensors found on some high end cars.

There's going to be all kinds of new government mandated safety equipment installed on cars in the future. And for what reason? To protect us from ourselves.

 

Well said Dave, I couldn't agree more.

 

My first vehicle was Z28 convertible that was driven most of the time with the top down, I understand the fact of using safety devices. If the vehicle was to ever roll over my seat belt was the only thing that was going to keep me alive...well that and a strong wind shield. I just rarely approve of the government making safety requirements mandatory for automotive manufactures.