Glad Land Cruisers don't adopt new technologies

[Raj]

Even though it’s not directly about the Land Cruiser, I’ve been thinking about how much I value the safety of our old Landcruisers without all the high-tech gadgets of today’s cars.

Yesterday, I was driving an EV6, which is less than a year old and loaded with all the latest driver assistance and safety features. While passing a car on the left lane, the collision system suddenly activated without reason. It slammed the brakes hard, making a loud bang for just a split second before releasing. I felt I hit a wall but there was nothing in front of me so I think it was clearly a false alarm unless a fox or deer jumped and disappeared.

The impact was intense. The sudden force and seat belt pressure felt severe enough for a moment, it felt like I had a heart attack—I even blacked out briefly. Thankfully, it kept the steering steady; otherwise, I could have collided with the divider.

I wished I’d taken the Land Cruiser yesterday (It was dark and foggy). I am convinced that these modern vehicles, with their gadgets and sensors, aren’t always safe, especially in challenging conditions like fog, darkness, or adverse weather. Their sensors can misinterpret signals at any time. In contrast, the Land Cruiser, with its simpler engineering, feels much more dependable.

Now I’m left with this modern “gadget,” for the next 2 years but whenever I get the chance, I’ll go back to an older Land Cruiser than my current one. A vast majority might have a different opinion and value the modern technology over the safety of robust mechanical engineering and pure metal but one such false alarm by these plastic sensors could be the line between life and death in these modern gadgets.

 

[Gav missin]

Totally with you Raj. I don't want a sensor making decisions, especially wrong ones for me. The way forward truly is back

 

[Shayne]

The great thing about technology is it allows us to find things that do work at classic auctions lol

 

[karl2000]

Glad youre alright Raj thats the main thing

 

[BobMurphy]

My elder daughter is a Traffic Cop, their modern BMW & Volvos have this stuff. They have been caught out when answering emergency calls when the 'lane assist' tries to stop them weaving through traffic while the sensors think they are about to crash and cause the seat belts to slam them back into their seats !

It appears even the Police can't get this nonsense removed.

Bob.

 

[Raj]

Tesla’s Autopilot system has been linked to several crashes, some resulting in fatalities. In April 2024, the NHTSA concluded a three-year investigation into 956 vehicle collisions involving Tesla’s Autopilot, finding that the system contributed to at least 467 crashes, including 13 that resulted in fatalities.

Not to point out Tesla, since they have the most aggressive form of such systems and sold more cars than others, they have the data. I am sure all other cars with aggressive/intrusive driver assist systems will have similar data in few years

 

[toolsplus]

I think the best cars for driving and safety were made from 1990 to 2010. Retrictions were easy to remove and driving pleasure and ownership were the best ever re reliability and durability.
The Land Cruisers of that era are great examples of this.
The 70,80,90,100,120 and 150 are all cracking vehicles.
It would be clever of Toyota to sell a commercial Land Cruiser 250 pared back to the bone. That
is no: sunroof,spare wheel underneath,air suspension,driver assist,big info screens etc.
I wonder how much a base vehicle could cost if they would ditch a lot of expensive unnecessary stuff...?
Cheers

 

[frank rabbets]

Send the car to work and stay at home.

 

[LandcruisingFarmer]

I think the best cars for driving and safety were made from 1990 to 2010. Retrictions were easy to remove and driving pleasure and ownership were the best ever re reliability and durability.
The Land Cruisers of that era are great examples of this.
The 70,80,90,100,120 and 150 are all cracking vehicles.
It would be clever of Toyota to sell a commercial Land Cruiser 250 pared back to the bone. That
is no: sunroof,spare wheel underneath,air suspension,driver assist,big info screens etc.
I wonder how much a base vehicle could cost if they would ditch a lot of expensive unnecessary stuff...?
Cheers

Oh, I like a sunroof. Otherwise totally with you on the basic spec. My opinion whilst of no use to anyone else, is that if you need all those driving ‘aids’ lane assist etc you should probably not be driving. A for massive info screens such as in a Tesla et al, it’s bonkers to have such a distraction. In the dark or gloomy weather, even on a normal day, buttons and dials are easy to work out without looking. These touch screens controlling everything command your attention like never before. Rant over.

 

[Juddian]

My previous new truck had all this rubbish back in Jan 2019, you could switch off the lane departure noises but cancelling AEBS braking wasn't possible, nor would i anyway, you just know if you had any accident if totally innocent and the black box told the story you'd turned it off you'd be for the high jump.
A few weeks after being issued with it one small town i go through there's herringbone parking all the way through and a set of centre bollards just before the market place, as cars have got longer over time there's a chicane maneuver to clear the bollards, yup truck didn't like that and threw the anchors on, around 20mph at that point so its a dead stop, good luck anyone behind because the back of a tanker doesn't have any crumple zone.
The system was too sensitive hence i had to modify any chicane type approaches to pass closer to the parked cars or whatever, even someone turning left in front i'd have to exaggerate keeping back from them or the AEBS would fire up, the noise it made just before braking sounded not unlike Tarzan.

My new truck issued in April isn't quite so quick to actually hit the brakes and so far hasn't done so but gives just as many warnings, the lane departure buzzers must sound off anything up to 20 times a day, picks up old road markings tarmac repairs etc.

Last truck i consulted the drivers manual about AEBS, there you will find weasel words informing you that no matter what happens you the driver are ultimately responsible for control, i suspect such wording can be found in all manuals of vehicles fitted with this stuff.

The lunatics are running the asylum, everything is dumbed down, one size fits all is the rule now which is fine but its based on the lowest common denominator, so because some pencil pusher in the Ministry of Truth, sorry, Transport, can't drive 50 miles without losing control we're all assumed to be at that leverl of competence.

 

[GeekOKent]

Next time you are in the USA, try the waymo taxi .

 

[Raj]

Oh, I like a sunroof. Otherwise totally with you on the basic spec. My opinion whilst of no use to anyone else, is that if you need all those driving ‘aids’ lane assist etc you should probably not be driving. A for massive info screens such as in a Tesla et al, it’s bonkers to have such a distraction. In the dark or gloomy weather, even on a normal day, buttons and dials are easy to work out without looking. These touch screens controlling everything command your attention like never before. Rant over.

with you on this. I felt this when tested Tesla. Its too much and too many small fonts in the middle to look at and change while driving. Tesla says we don't need the screen as we can talk to it. This tech needs a lot of improvement.

If I am taking my example, the car made a decision and acted on its own on a false alarm. However, it failed to take into account that I had an ICD lead on the chest and the impact could send a false signal to the device and trigger a shock with the potential to cause irreversible damage to the heart if this repeats. This whole incident generated a shock from my device and wasted two days of my productive time. In worst case, in someone else without ICD to protect and other contributing illnesses, such an incident could be fatal.

What did the autopilot do, they lacked sensitivity to life and just released the technology for the thrill of innovation and profits (just my opinion not a fact-based thing) resulting few fatal crashes for as silly things as misinterpreting trucks for bridges and bridges for trucks. Humanity wouldn't have lost any race if they spent a few more years testing this technology before releasing it into cars.

I think these systems lack the technology to weigh benefits vs risks based on driver's circumstances and sensitivity toward life. These should not be introduced into the road cars directly at this stage.

 

[fbnss]

Everyday my lorry flashed up that I'm about to crash, thankfully I can turn all that crap off and just drive under the bridge (without hitting it)

 

[Raj]

waymo taxi

I heard this from a friend too. I would wait 5-10 more years to observe them before using seriously scary stuff

 

[Raj]

lorry flashed

in the near future our trucks and cars might start shouting at us instead of flashing and warnings ,

 

[fbnss]

It does that too, theres the crap in the lorry that you can turn off (mostly) theres some stupid thing over on the left that tells me theres a railing, tree or lampost next to me when im indicating left and then theres the inward facing camera that tells me off for scratching my back or picking my nose, all 3 hideous distractions in the name of safety!!!

 

[Shayne]

I'm sure I read some time back its already passed into EU law that cars manufactured after 2026 maybe ? must have speed limiters that so no road speed limit can be broken ?

Won't be long before your car automatically sends a fine to be deducted directly from your bank account .

 

[Bodie]

@Raj Not a good experience Raj!, but glad all was OK, especially after our conversations earlier in the year about which EV to go for!
As you know, I ordered the Tesla and having far too many driving years behind me I care to remember, I have all the auto controls turned OFF. On the subject of accident rates, I think Tesla's real issues revolved around their Autopilot system, which in my mind, should never be a thing!!
Regarding, someone's earlier comment about the single central source/screen being a distraction. This isn't really an issue, as even though the voice control system could be improved, it caters for virtually everything, without the need to keep consulting the screen, plus all the main controls needed whilst driving, are also on the steering wheel, so the main screen shouldnt be and isn't a distraction whilst driving.
The problem is that auto controls for braking, lane control etc. as Nick highlighted, are unfortunately, on all modern cars and commercials now, both ICE and EVs.
It's just sad that a lot of these new technology companies & developers, seem to assume the human brain is now defunct!
That aside, I agree Raj, the LC is always 'Smiles for Miles'....

 

[toolsplus]

I'm sure I read some time back its already passed into EU law that cars manufactured after 2026 maybe ? must have speed limiters that so no road speed limit can be broken ?

Won't be long before your car automatically sends a fine to be deducted directly from your bank account .

In France the cops speed cameras can transfer money directly from your bank account, 1984 has arrived...

 

[AdventureWagon]

My neighbour bought a new Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max SUV and she let me.have a drive. Drives nice but the safety and tech wank are just OTT. She loves it though. But for slightly cheaper she could have got a 220kkm 150 series manual hahahaha