Thanks ladies for your kind words folks, but just to be clear, I am not rolled
up in a ball shivering in a corner somewhere sucking my thumb (now there’s a
funny image for those capable of visual imagery). I just intend to use my
judgement when it comes to determining which cars are safe to drive and which
are not. Not all fear is pathological. For a balanced person (which I claim to
be) fear is a legitimate response to a potential danger. It only becomes
pathological if there is no danger present. With these cars, there most
certainly is a serious danger present.
In the same way that a sane women does not put herself under the power of a
violent drunk man for a second time, a sane person does not put themselves
under the power of an unsafe technology for a second time. I maintain that
these cars are simply not safe. I assure you that many otherwise emotionally
healthy people are now refusing to drive them, and that the decision is a valid
one.
I, in fact, did put myself under it’s power for a second time. I abridged my
description of the problem with the Peugeot. I drove it back from Wollongong to
Nowra after it was supposedly fixed ($2000 later). I drove it for a few days
until it started to shut down on me a second time. This time I had done my
research and worked out what I believed was happening – that there was not
enough electrical grunt to complete all electronically dependent operations at
low revs – and had rehearsed in my mind what I could switch off to save power.
On the second occasion the accelerator ceased working and we started drifting
around a roundabout. I switched off the radio and wipers, the motor did not
switch itself off on that occasion, which was a serious plus, and I was able
to wait until the accelerator rediscovered its source of power and the car
re-engaged. I got home, parked the car and never drove it again. By then, my
rattly old Ford, thankfully, was back on the road. The car’s owner returned
from overseas, ignored my warnings, drove the car, experienced it shutting down
on her. She traded it in so that she did not have to look the new owner in the
eye as she took their money. Now, doubtless, someone else has driven this
potentially deadly car out of the car yard, excited at their new purchase…
Anyone who trusts computers is a barking fool. But for those of you who think
you can, do you remember that old saying “mark my words”. Well “mark my words”
and tell me in 5 – 10 years time that you still trust computer controlled cars,
whether self-driving or not. They will not “take off” the way you think they
should because few will be willing and most won’t be able the pay the cost of
keeping them safe. There will have to be a new breed of mechanic, and the good
ones will be able to command their own price – the price you will have to pay
to keep your electronic nightmare on the road. The current breed of mechanic is
not capable of maintaining them.
Now there’s a thought for a car buff – Warren? Either take an electrical
engineering course and become the Red Adair of computer controlled cars, or
start collecting old cars in mint condition. When the market is flooded with
failing computer controlled cars, and traumatised drivers, those old cars will
be worth a mint. My old Ford felt so good after the Peugeot. I will never
complain about how primitive Fords are again.
Christine
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jenny Crotty
Sent: Thursday, 7 July 2016 5:04 PM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: OT I hate it when I am this right
Christine, I would second that recommendation to use EFT, however if you can
find an NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) trained practitioner who can help
you with a Trauma Busting process then you’ll be amazed at the results.
In my other life I am trained in all these methodologies including Personal
Coaching and have experienced and witnessed some amazing transformations.
My daughter was almost crippled by severe anxiety and it was a combination of
these techniques that freed her mind from the irrational reactions and fears
that were really limiting her life. I took her to months of traditional
Psychologist treatments that were so ineffective I was beside myself. The
impact this illness had on our entire family was devastating. The treatments
they had here on were all based in the conscious mind space, something they
called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. However the anxiety reactions were all
driven by her subconscious and it took 2 x 1 hour sessions to free her. I was
so amazed I had to learn more about them.
Happy to chat anytime, about NLP, EFT or Coaching. These topics are where my
passion is, more so than Tech Writing, that just pays the bills for now.
Best regards
Jen
Jenny Crotty
Technical Writer
ITS Business Engagement
Bunnings Group Limited
126 Pilbara Street, Welshpool WA 6106
Locked Bag 20, Welshpool DC WA 6985
Phone : (08) 9365-1568
Fax : (08) 9451-5754
E-mail : <mailto:jcrotty@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> jcrotty@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Website : <http://www.bunnings.com.au> www.bunnings.com.au
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of LIVERANI Petra
Sent: Thursday, 7 July 2016 2:32 PM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: OT I hate it when I am this right
Hi Christine,
I’m very sorry that your experiences in the Peugeot led to PTSD, a really
unpleasant, even unbearable condition, by all accounts.
Funnily enough, I happened to go to this site last night and watch the videos
about US veterans who’ve used EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques or “tapping”)
to help with their PTSD – you may well have used it yourself. I’ve used EFT and
while it hasn’t had the miraculous results I’ve heard others speak about, it’s
certainly helped with certain issues.
http://www.tappingsolutionfoundation.org/tapping-for-war-veterans/
Regards,
Petra
Petra Liverani
Technical Writer / UX Designer
TMC Systems Development
Operational Systems
Infrastructure and Services
Transport for NSW
T 02 8396 1617 | F 02 8396 7950 | M 0401 023 961
25 Garden St, Eveleigh NSW 2015
Use public transport... plan your trip at <http://www.transportnsw.info/>
transportnsw.info
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Christine Kent
Sent: Thursday, 7 July 2016 2:46 PM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: OT I hate it when I am this right
Exactly. Emotions are one thing. Thoughts are another. PTSD has nothing to do
with thoughts. It has to do with emotions, and the level of shock experienced
when something potentially fatal happens over which one has no control and for
which no evasive action can be taken. Adrenalin is there to fuel the flight or
fight response, and it damages us when we can do neither.
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Warren Lewington
Sent: Thursday, 7 July 2016 2:36 PM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: OT I hate it when I am this right
Ah. Yeah. I should’ve qualified that Christine.
I’ve driven a lot more dangerous things than autocars would ever be – and I am
comfortable with the relative amount of risk involved in that. I can also
imagine I could disable something like that if it behaved badly far more
quickly than the average person would.
But you are right about the caution we need to consider here. I doubt I would
want to be in an autocar driving in country areas – like to the Snowy on a
Friday night as I often do this time of year. Safety devices and so on and
driver aids I’ll take on that drive any time, but having my own experienced
senses working when and where I know there are consistently unpredictable
hazards around is something I much prefer.
Warren.
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Christine Kent
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2016 2:26 PM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: OT I hate it when I am this right
“Getting into my personal transport, telling it where I want it to go, and
letting it take me there while I read a book, do some work, write a post to
austechwriter? Sounds awesome to me.”
Until the first time it threatens to kill you and you can do nothing about it.
Then human nature kicks in. You will never drive one again. Logic does not come
into it at this point. It is PTSD stuff. I am still traumatised from my little
roll down the hill, and I would move out of the city to where the driving is
easy rather than ever sit in even a supposedly intelligent car, let alone a
self driving car again.
If you search the web for reports of electronic failures of VW and Peugeot
cars, you will maybe grasp the emotional impact of losing control to this
level. You cannot over-rule human emotions.
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of LIVERANI Petra
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2016 4:10 PM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: Re: OT I hate it when I am this right
Very sad. More information on the crash. Ironically, it seems that the driver,
Joshua Brown, had posted a video in May saying how the autopilot function had
saved him from an accident.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-01/tesla-driver-killed-while-car-was-in-on-autopilot/7560126
It seems that although the autopilot function isn’t perfect (and this is very
much emphasised by the company) the Model S is still a very safe car. Accidents
have been reported in Model Ss where it is surmised the occupants would
normally have died but didn’t. The supposed saving of their lives, however, was
nothing to do with autopilot. The trouble is that even if Tesla say that you
should always have your hands on the steering wheel, etc, it will be virtually
impossible for drivers to maintain normal concentration and in a lapsed moment
when autopilot fails they could have an accident. Unfortunately, in the
improvement process lives will be lost and I’d say it is more likely than not
that it will never achieve 100% safety … but that’s hardly unexpected.
Presumably, autopilot will save more lives than it loses.
Petra Liverani
Technical Writer / UX Designer
TMC Systems Development
Operational Systems
Infrastructure and Services
Transport for NSW
T 02 8396 1617 | F 02 8396 7950 | M 0401 023 961
25 Garden St, Eveleigh NSW 2015
Use public transport... plan your trip at <http://www.transportnsw.info/>
transportnsw.info
From: austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:austechwriter-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Christine Kent
Sent: Friday, 1 July 2016 3:43 PM
To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: atw: OT I hate it when I am this right
http://www.breitbart.com/news/tesla-driver-killed-on-autopilot-mode-probe-opened/
--
Christine
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