Assistance systems – curse or blessing?
Every year new assistance systems conquer the market. They are always praised as useful innovations that support the driver in driving and can even save him in critical situations. These highly intelligent assistance systems are thus intended to make driving safer for all passengers, but in no way incapacitate the motorist.
Indispensable standard systems and newer systems
When it comes to surveillance and restriction of personal freedom, we react negatively. This is understandable, but a reality check is worthwhile to put the hype about “Big Brother in the car” into perspective. Because there are already some assistance systems that are used very often nowadays and are already considered standard. These include the anti-lock braking system (ABS), the electronic stability program (ESP), the rain sensor on the windscreen wipers and cruise control. Somewhat newer, but already very widespread in mostly somewhat more expensive vehicles, are the following assistance systems:
| Distance warning | Tire Pressure Monitoring System |
| Notbremsassistent | Adaptive Bend Light |
| Rear view camera | Adaptive High Beam Assistant |
| Start-stop technology (at the light signal) | Congestion Assistant |
| Blind Spot Monitoring | Automatic emergency braking (ANB) |
Most of the above-mentioned assistance systems are now an integral part of modern vehicles. Customers demand everything that is feasible, and so there is hardly a car driver who would like to do without these devices when buying a new car. If a certain assistance system is sensibly installed in the vehicle as a real innovation, everyone can intuitively handle it correctly. Thus, one can safely assume a real increase in comfort for the car owner. Furthermore, most assistance systems relate to driving safety and their developed technology is therefore of the greatest benefit to the traffic as a whole.
There are also contra-arguments
Not all systems are really useful, some even superfluous “gimmicks”. Many require increased attention during operation and at that moment cause the opposite of safety. In addition, cars with ever more modern technology are constantly becoming disproportionately more expensive in terms of acquisition costs. And the last annoying point: you can hardly repair anything on modern cars yourself. Even to replace a lamp, certain types of vehicle require a workshop.
Conclusion
There can be no clear answer to the title question of the yes-no principle here. No one will want to claim in good conscience that progress is fundamentally harmful. Ultimately, everyone must decide for themselves what they regard as progress in terms of automobility. But at the latest when this rapid development continues unabated, up to completely self-controlling vehicles – like the autopilot in an aeroplane – we will have to ask ourselves the above question again.
