Opinion: Lane Keep Assist's minimum speed of 40mph breeds aggressive drivers.

[phly95]

For those that like to leverage assistive driving technology for a calmer driving experience, LKA is a great add. Unfortunately, Ford thought it was a good idea to set a minimum speed. This effectively sets the optimal minimum speed at 40 mph, especially if you're tired and don't feel like steering much.

This combination leads to the most aggressive driving at one's drowsiest state. It wouldn't affect most people who commute on the highway, but for those driving on side roads a lot, this 40mph minimum speed could be a safety hazard.

Has anyone else felt LKA made them more aggressive drivers?

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[LtCasual]

This seems to be pretty standard:

Acura: LKAS is designed to be used on highways and will only operate at 45 mph or above

Honda: The system is able to identify Botts' Dots and other lane markings, and works at speeds between 45 mph and 90 mph

Hyundai: At speeds over 40 MPH and below 110 MPH, the Lane Keep Assist icon will light up green

Chevrolet: It works when your vehicle is moving forward in DRIVE above approximately 37 mph on most vehicles.

Audi: Operating at speeds from 65 km/h (40.4 mph), Audi active lane assist helps the driver keep the vehicle in the driving lane

Kia: It will remain white when it doesn’t detect lane markers on whatever road you’re on or if you’re driving under 40 mph.

Volvo: This function is active in the speed range 65-200 km/h (40-125 mph)

 

[bombast]

Lane Keeping Assist is not designed to steer for you. It's there to compensate for momentary lapses in attention and control. That's why if you trigger it rapidly the truck will suggest you pull over.

If you're the type of person to lead foot it so you can take your hands off the wheel, I think you were going to find something aggressive to do regardless of the technology.

 

[phly95]

If you're the type of person to lead foot it so you can take your hands off the wheel, I think you were going to find something aggressive to do regardless of the technology.

Leaving cruise control set at 40 mph isn't exactly lead foot though. Speed is more set and forget in this case, optimizing for minimal effort. The problem arises once you reach curvy roads designed for 25mph but you don't feel like putting in the effort to slow down. In fact, in many cases, I'll keep a large buffer if I know the person in front is going slower than 40 as to maintain that constant 40 mph for as long as possible. (Rather than closing the gap, even if the speed limit allows for it)

 

[Darnon]

Being an inattentive/tired driver who insists on speeding sounds more like a you problem than Ford being at fault.

 

[jsus]

Lane keeping aid/assist is not lane centering. If lane keeping kicks in, either you screwed up, or the car got confused.

Lane centering is only available on Lariat with Luxury Package and Co-Pilot360. Still not a hands-free system. Still need your hands on the wheel and your full attention at all times.

Sounds more like OP shouldn't be driving, period.

 

[MostlySafeBear]

For those that like to leverage assistive driving technology for a calmer driving experience, LKA is a great add. Unfortunately, Ford thought it was a good idea to set a minimum speed. This effectively sets the optimal minimum speed at 40 mph, especially if you're tired and don't feel like steering much.

This combination leads to the most aggressive driving at one's drowsiest state. It wouldn't affect most people who commute on the highway, but for those driving on side roads a lot, this 40mph minimum speed could be a safety hazard.

Has anyone else felt LKA made them more aggressive drivers?

What the hell are you doing driving tired at all? That's your basic problem.

Lane Keep is not there to compensate for the fact that you should not be driving while tired. It's designed to save you and other people, but it's not perfect, it has very similar limitations across most manufacturers, and it should not be relied on to enable you to make shitty decisions!

 

[MLowe05]

Lane keeping aid/assist is not lane centering. If lane keeping kicks in, either you screwed up, or the car got confused.

Lane centering is only available on Lariat with Luxury Package and Co-Pilot360. Still not a hands-free system. Still need your hands on the wheel and your full attention at all times.

Sounds more like OP shouldn't be driving, period.

Agreed. No idea what OP is on about, but they sound like a danger to themselves and others.

 

[BILLNOROVILLE]

"For those that like to leverage assistive driving technology for a calmer driving experience".

LKA It is not designed to keep you calm. It is designed to save your ass when you take your mind off actually driving your 3600+ pound killing machine unsafely. I feel like you will be the first to get a self-driving car so you can sleep on the way home. I you can't put in the proper effort to drive on any road, park the truck.

 

[phly95]

What the hell are you doing driving tired at all? That's your basic problem.

Lane Keep is not there to compensate for the fact that you should not be driving while tired. It's designed to save you and other people, but it's not perfect, it has very similar limitations across most manufacturers, and it should not be relied on to enable you to make shitty decisions!

Interesting that a cool tech gadget would be made for people to not use it though. Not quite sure what alternative there is to driving drowsy. But when driving is a must, I think based on what I've heard from you guys, stick to the freeways and avoid stroads and side roads when drowsy, where full attention has way fewer variables to think about.

 

[jsus]

Interesting that a cool tech gadget would be made for people to not use it though. Not quite sure what alternative there is to driving drowsy. But when driving is a must, I think based on what I've heard from you guys, stick to the freeways and avoid stroads and side roads when drowsy, where full attention has way fewer variables to think about.

Yikes.

Do you also test out your airbags for funsies? Or was this whole thread just trolling?

 

[phly95]

I feel like you will be the first to get a self-driving car so you can sleep on the way home.

That sure would be nice indeed. Nothing better than being able to chill after a long day at work. Maybe not sleep (with current systems at least), I'd honestly be happy if it'd pull over automatically if that's detected.

 

[phly95]

Yikes.

Do you also test out your airbags for funsies? Or was this whole thread just trolling?

That's an interesting point. I guess not all cars systems are meant to be used after all.

I'll admit though, it's fun to watch the car steering itself, but not something that should be played around with based on what you guys have said.

 

[MostlySafeBear]

Not quite sure what alternative there is to driving drowsy.

DO NOT DRIVE AT ALL IF TIRED AND/OR UNABLE TO GIVE 100% ATTENTION TO YOUR DRIVING.

Seriously. Call a friend. Get an Uber or a Lyft. Call a cab. Whatever you have to do. But do not knowingly drive impaired. You will eventually kill or injure someone.

 

[MostlySafeBear]

Yikes.

Do you also test out your airbags for funsies? Or was this whole thread just trolling?

This is the kind of driver I worry about. Vehicle safety tech advanced, so he literally takes it as permission to drive more recklessly, by knowingly driving while drowsy.

People like him just miss the point by a mile.

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