Modern Vespa

File this under "I'll believe it when it ships", but:

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/ford-motorcycle-patent-lanesplitting-2018/

The patent outlines a system that uses cameras and a simple algorithm to detect motorcyclists approaching a vehicle from behind, between lanes
and will automatically move the car to the edge of the lane to block them.

I regularly see the little warning light in some cars' mirrors when I pass them. And no, I'm not lane splitting. They're in their lane, and I'm in mine.

Now if only the drivers would pay attention to the warning.

One of my fears is that people are going to become too dependent on the sensors all over modern cars. I've been with people who don't even bother looking over their shoulders when reversing because they trust their reversing cameras and sensors so much. I think that's an awful habit to get into.

Sensors fail unfortunately, especially the relatively cheap sensors that are on cars. Sensors also get dirty and so do camera len's. Automated systems fail as well. There's a lot of work to be done to make them safe.

Even with millions of dollars of technology thrown at self driving cars, they still can't get them to stop killing people and they're barely even on our roads yet - mostly just at the testing phase.

I realise the technology is improving and it IS more and more a part of 'driving', but I'm still planing on riding and assuming everyone is an idiot.

I love it, but I hate it at the same time

Anything and everything helps.

Excited about it and hope it's adopted sooner than later.

Yes true.. As long as people don't solely rely on technology to be their eyes and ears at this point in time and that's what I get concerned about - people becoming lazy.

The combination is potentially better than just our 'sensors' alone.

It's only a matter of time before we don't have any input at all except maybe a big red override button!

Just why would Ford do that?

All two wheeled rider should immediately boycott all Ford products for proposing such anti social behaviour.

Will said vehicle know if it is in a part of the world where passing by motorcycles is legal and common.

Or we can one day have a new game where we try to get two such equipped Ford to collide with each other.

The part about blocking was a joke

The sensors would warn or prevent lane changes when a bike is near.

I come from the polite country to the north I assume drivers do the blocking thing now without the use of technology.

I'm imagining the cars parting like the Red Sea as the Vespa hoons past.

I can't "unsee" this comment now. And I'm damn happy about it.

When I read the subject I immediately thought we were in Doug Ford's radar! Soon enough maybe Having a Ford as mayor wasn't enough, we're going to have one running the province soon. Yes, the brother of the now deceased crack smoking mayor Rob Ford...

But the stats don't lie, backing up accidents are down in the US with cars that have those cameras you don't like.

I live in a not-so-polite country to the south. In my lane-splitting commute of more than four years now I have had only two instances of very clearly malicious blocking (one of which was immediately remedied by the motorcycling Sheriff's Deputy next to me ).

There have been many more "passive-aggressive" examples, some of which could have just been inattention.

In general, at least during commuting times, drivers have been pretty good. I think they are used to us going by, and all of them are "professional commuters" at that time of day.

I wasn't aware that lane-splitting / filtering is illegal in 49 states...

You need protest rides where bikers take up space at the front of the traffic and ride as slowly as legally permitted, delaying cages in the traffic.

OTOH, I believe it's legal for PTWs to use the HOV lane in many if not all states that have 'em.

Yep and if you are in Va. on a motorcycle and see a Hot Lanes sign, get in it. Limited access, but free for Motorcycles and speed limit is 65 MPH as opposed to 55 MPH

.

I'm all for the technology and let's face it, love it or hate it, it's inevitable.

What kind of redundancies do they have in these systems? Does anyone know?

We have that on our Subaru - part of the Eyesight system.

FYI, lane splitting in Texas is not technically illegal per conversations with multiple LEOs in different forces. What I was told was that it is the officer's discretion and the ticket would be "unsafe" driving. Even then it would most likely be thrown out by a judge in court if you fought it and were not being a hoon. I've filtered aka lane spit to the front occasionally in the burbs or when there is road work going on but not in the part of Houston where I live because the lanes are too narrow. Heck there isn't even room for a bicycle between the mirrors and the curb on my street which gets heavy traffic some parts of the day.

If lane splitting becomes legal insurance rates will quadruple.

John

That's how it was here in CA for a LONG time. I'm glad it's finally legal here!!!

[quote="tvnacman"]If lane splitting becomes legal insurance rates will quadruple.

John[/quote
I really doubt that. I would possibly agree that hand held cell texting might raise rates were it factored in.
Lane splitting has been talked about for years on MC forums and many of us do it.
I'd like to see drivers required to get actual training in the USA, which has gone away and my all time main rant.
How about a vehicle kill switch that stops the engine if you run red lights?
Or a kill switch connected to cell phones in the hand?
My Ford F-150 has back-up sensors and rear view camera. That didn't prevent the dumb ass 18 yr old girl from trying to hit my wife moving a grocery cart so I could back in that space. She said she saw my brake lights and decided to try to make it past me before I got in the space. My bumper has a minor clear coat scratch and bit of Chev aveno red paint on the hitch ball. Her rear door is totaled and my wife barely escaped getting hit! meanwhile the LEO took her side and wrote it up as me being a distracted driver-go figure? We happen to have the same insurance company who is doing their own investigation. The cop declined to talk to my wife, she the only out of vehicle close-by witness to the incident. LEO volunteered to us both that she was speeding.
Takes more than gizmos to prevent/fix stupidity?

Kantuckid: Ugh...glad your wife's okay. And no, there's no surefire cure for stupid.

Based on what?

I don't think we pay quadruple rates in California.

And it almost eliminates all rear-ending incidents.

Seeing how it's practised everywhere else in the world apart from the USA(-CA), I suspect insurance rates might go down!

Can't happen, what if you need to run a light because a fire engine or ambulance is behind you. And what about right turn on red, that is legal in Va and many other states.
Hell left turn on red at intersecting one way streets is legal in Va too.

I was bringing up a red light rant not a realistic solution! to idiots who run them daily in todays world. Not been that long ago you never saw anyone but a drunk run red lights or pull out in front of people like now. Bad topic overall as it ticks me off how driver skills/attitudes have deteriorated. Even over the road drivers are much worse these days. I see trucks running on shoulders all the time from cell phones, eating, sleepy, what ever? There was a time when pro drivers were the best.