T24-Group 1

Introduction
The automotive industry has evolved over the years from the simple gasoline engine to a highly sophisticated system of electronics. Today’s high end vehicles can include up to about four kilometres of wiring, a major change from the average 45 metres seen in 1955. New systems include but are not limited to advanced safety features, comfort features, and occupant entertainment systems. This article intends to discuss both the advantages and drawbacks of the implementation of electronics systems to the driver experience.

Advanced Saftey Features
These are just a few advanced safety features that most people would be familiar with. The one thing people have to remember is that these features along with your driving skills will help prevent an accident. These features alone will not prevent a “bad” driver from getting into an accident and hurting themselves or someone else.

Airbags
Millions of vehicles in Canada now have air bags. There is abundant evidence that air bags, used in conjunction with seat-belts, save lives. Sensors in the front bumpers of the car activate the airbags when a collision has occurred. Thus giving an added level of protection for the occupants of the vehicle.

Air bags are an evolving technology. Many of the concerns currently being expressed will be addressed in the near future as air bag systems become more advanced. "Smart" air bags are being developed, which will inflate according to such factors as seat-belt use, occupant size, occupant presence and closeness to the air bag module.

ABS (Antilock Braking System)
Antilock Braking Systems eliminate the need to "pump the brakes" when you have to stop quickly, this prevents you from locking the wheels and skidding(this can occur on any road surface). Because ABS pumps the brakes for you, you can apply constant pressure on the brake pedal and concentrate on steering the car out of the situation your in. This allows you to regain control during inclement weather or quickly avoid a collision. ABS is available for nearly all new cars and trucks and is standard equipment on many.

Traction Control
While ABS helps you maintain control while braking, traction control helps you do so while accelerating. Traction control stops or slows the spin of a wheel -- due to wet conditions, loose gravel or an overzealous foot -- by braking it, reducing the fuel or cutting spark plug ignitions (depending on your system). It can also apply more power to the wheel with traction to maintain stability and control. This insures maximum contact between your tires and the road.

Some safety features that are coming in the near future and some that are already here also include…
 * Head restraints
 * Night Vision / Heads Up Display
 * Electronic Stability Systems



Increased Driver Comfort
Recently cars are being outfitted to with many features to improve the comfort of their drivers. The comforts serve to remove physical and mental stress on the driver of the vehicle. One major feature is the electronic adjustable seat. These seats have a variety of positions so that no matter the size of the driver they can be comfortably close to the pedals and reclined to their desire. Some seats may also be heated for colder climates and this makes the driving experience much more enjoyable. Another feature that has recently been placed in vehicles is individual climate control. This allows the passengers and driver to enjoy different temperatures inside the vehicle. These features along with many other greatly improve the driving experience.

Entertainment
The popularity of in car entertainment systems has begun to grown significantly in the past few years. With technological advances such as iPods car manufacturers have put in place iPod compatible stereo systems so that people can play all of their songs without the fuss of CD’s. Most cars also have taken the step to install controls for input selection and volume control onto the steering wheel, allowing the driver to choose their music without losing control of the vehicle. Many people also install amplifiers and subwoofers in their cars to improve their listening pleasure.

Another common form of in car entertainment is headrest video screens. This allows passengers in the back seat to enjoy movies or games during the ride. Drivers with young children or easily bored passangers may enjoy these features as they greatly reduce distractions coming from the back seats. Currently many cars are outfitted with these features to entertain the passangers allowing the driver to concentrate more freely without distractions.

Increased Driver Distractions
As society increases its use of advanced technology, the number of ways a driver can be distracted also increases. A study done in April 2006 found that almost 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involved some form of driver distraction within three seconds of the event. For example, cell phone use while driving causes up to 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries every year in the United States alone and has been prohibited to use while driving in many places.

Additional distractions include miniature televisions that come standard in many family vehicles, but they may entertain more then just the passengers. Even music has been shown to be a major distraction when driving. Although people can effectively drive while listening to music, studies show that there is a direct relation between loud music and increase in speed while driving.

False Sense of Security
The advanced safety features installed in automobiles have the negative effect of giving drivers a false sense of security. One problem caused by this is the increased reliance on airbags. Injuries and/or death can result from use of airbags during a collision. Injuries can include skin abrasions, hearing damage from the explosion during deployment of airbags, multiple body parts becoming fractured or broken, and even chemical burns from the chemicals inside the airbag are just some of the many injuries that can occur from airbags. Individuals are much more likely to injure themselves from airbags if they are under the height of 5’3” and are situated too close to the airbag.

Drivers also heavily rely on safety feature such as antilock brake systems (ABS) and stability control, but in fact those features do not work 100% of the time. They may increase the chance of a drivers ability to handle a car when road conditions are more challenging than usual, however they do not have the ability to prevent accidents when an individual drives erratically. Focus on driver skills and training is a much better way to prevent accidents than these embedded safety features.



Increased Costs
Sooner or later, something will break, wear out or fail on every car and truck.Nothing lasts forever, so when your vehicle needs repairs you obviously want to know how much it is going to cost -- hopefully BEFORE the work begins. Most reputable shops should give you an estimate that lists which parts need to be replaced, the labor charge to replace those parts, any charges for diagnostic time, and any additional charges for miscellaneous items such as shop supplies, hazardous waste disposal fees, etc.

Repair Labor Rates
Labor is usually the most expensive part of auto repairs. The longer it takes a technician to replace a part, the more you are going to pay. Accessibility (or the lack thereof) is a major issue on many late model vehicles. Some parts can be very difficult and time-consuming to replace. Time is money, and most shops charge $100 to $120 or more PER HOUR for labor (note: the technician usually receives less than HALF of the labor charge! Most technicians make in the ball park of $25-30 PER HOUR). The hourly rates are high due to the fact that auto repair can be hard, dirty, back-breaking work. It requires a lot of training, skill and experience, and a lot of expensive tools and equipment. The average technician has over $10,000 invested in his tools and training, and the shop where he works may own thousands of dollars of service equipment. A large percentage of the hourly labor rate you pay goes to shop overhead (which includes rent, utilities, equipment purchases & maintenance, employee benefits, etc.) and profit.

Flat Rate
The labor you are charged on your repair bill is usually based on a standard "flat rate" estimate. Repair jobs are classified by year, make and model, and the times can vary a great deal from one vehicle to another. All of this is supposedly taken into account when a vehicle manufacturer or aftermarket manual publisher comes up with flat rate tables for various repair jobs on various vehicles. The flat rate information is published in printed or electronic format, and is then used by car dealers and repair shops to prepare repair estimates. Sometimes a shop will add extra time to an estimate depending on the vehicle's condition, or from previous experience if they feel the published flat rate does not allow enough time to complete the job.

Many shops also have a separate DIAGNOSTIC fee. This covers the time it takes to connect a scan tool to your vehicle and read out any fault codes that may be in the vehicle's computer. The diagnostic charge typically ranges from $75 to $100 or more. With the advancement of electronics in today’s automobiles the diagnosing of faults and errors is becoming increasingly difficult, needing higher training and specialized tools to come up with the proper diagnosis and repair. In this case some shops are going to an hourly rate due to the complexity of the problem. This means that they start the clock when they start working on the car and they stop the clock when the repair is done. Whether it takes an hour or three days you pay how ever long it takes to fix the problem.

So the average buyer in today’s market has to take into account all the above. It is not uncommon for a buyer to calculate his finances and figure out he can afford the next step up luxury vehicle. Unfortunately when he takes the car in for a simple oil change he finds out his bill is $500, at this rate if something major were to happen he won’t be able to afford to fix the car. He has to sell his new car and find something a little more affordable. You must always be aware of the long term costs of owning a vehicle.



Conclusion
The increase of computer technology in the automotive industry has the ability to greatly increase the drivers’ enjoyment and personal safety. However, it is important to note the need for increased consumer awareness about the limitations of technology and possible implications. Automakers are consistently integrating additional distractive elements into their vehicles and drivers and consistently given a false sense of security when their vehicle is equipped with so many safety features. In addition, with new technology comes potential problems with vehicle reliability and increased maintenance cost. Only if we increase overall driver knowledge by having information and training about these new features readily available can we truly improve the driving experience.

Group Members
Amy Jackson, Joachim Kuzel, Logan Bonnaventure, Ryan Baker