Are electronic gearshifts putting drivers in danger?

[jakeXT]

Automakers are changing the way you put your car in gear, swapping out traditional gear shifters with digital replacements, especially in luxury brands.

Part of what's driving this shift to electronic transmissions is they take up less space so cup holders can be bigger and there is also room for more buttons. But there is specific concern about the technology used in some Jeeps, putting some drivers at risk and sparking a government investigation, reports CBS News correspondent Kris Van Cleave.

Gary Titus leased a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, a vehicle built with this new kind of electronic transmission that changed the "feel" of shifting gears - but maybe too much.

"If I don't hit it just right and get into drive, I could get into an accident because of that," Titus said.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/nhtsa-investigates-dangers-monostable-electronic-gearshift-fiat-chrysler-jeep-grand-cherokee/

[phazed0]

1. The answer is... no.

"vehicle built with this new kind of electronic transmission" - It's not new.
My 2008(!!!) BMW has an electronic shifter almost identical to this 2012 one (function is the same):

"Are electronic gearshifts putting drivers in danger?" - No, non attentive drivers are putting themselves in danger.

"If I don't hit it just right and get into drive, I could get into an accident because of that," Titus said.
The statement is false.. There is no "Just right", the damn thing goes up (+) or down (-) in a very binary fashion.. there is no "grey area" - If you don't get it "just right", it's called selecting the wrong gear and not looking at what you selected.

I would agree that Chrysler should put a dedicated "P" button on the shifter.. but it's a Chrysler, that's expecting too much.

[jakeXT]

2. I drove the BMW, try to drive with an open door...it changes into P, the Jeep doesn't /nt

[phazed0]

6. That is true...

Not to be contrarian here, but that is a 'software' function of the ECU/Computer, not a gearshift problem. So when they say, "Are electronic gearshifts at risk.", the answer is no.

The problem with Chrysler is that they are always playing catch-up with incrementalism... "We must make a electronic shifter", they say. Then, instead of looking at everyone else's electronic shifters, they decide to make it "virtually the same as a traditional shifter"... with all of it's flaws as well. I recall being able to be in the wrong gear with a mech shifter.

I get the argument against these but the line of questioning/titling from the media is a bit over the top, IMO.

[Cassiopeia]

3. Lol.

It's not just the gear shifts that are going electric, but the entire vehicle.

You think there's still a column between the steering wheel and the front wheels? You think there's still a rod or cable between the pedals and brake master cylinder or fuel injection system?

About the only hard connection left in cars today is between the emergency brake lever or pedal and the rear brakes.

[jakeXT]

4. The problem is not that it's electric, but how it's implemented. With tactile feedback or not?

Does it go into P when a door is opened, or not ?

[Cassiopeia]

5. If you're opening your door before putting the car in park

The problem doesn't begin with the car.

How about we make drivers responsible for that thing called driving.

[jakeXT]

7. Handbrake to be safe...

http://jalopnik.com/anton-yelchins-jeep-was-included-in-rollaway-recall-lin-1782277820

[AdHocSolver]

10. The goal in design of good electronic and computer systems is to make them idiot-proof.

Proper design should make it as difficult as possible for the user to make a "mistake".

When it is easy for the user to make a mistake, that is not an excuse to blame the user, that is bad design decisions on the part of the system developer.

[Cassiopeia]

11. We're talking about cars here.

Something you are supposed to prove you know how to operate before you can use them.

[AdHocSolver]

12. One doesn't have to go to driving school to learn how to drive a new car.

The design of any system for use by the masses should conform to a standard such that the average driver should be able to operate them safely and reasonably competently after a short "getting acquainted" period.

Any system that doesn't have built-in safety backup features is a bad design.

I worked in design, implementation, and maintenance of computer systems for several years. The goal was to make it difficult for the user to make a "mistake".

Safety features, such as seat belts, are provided as a backup system to protect users from "mistakes".

[zebonaut]

8. Betcha thats what happed to that Star Trek actor; killed when his car rolled back on him....

While checking the mail

http://deadline.com/2016/06/star-trek-actor-anton-yelchin-dies-at-27-in-home-accident-1201775257/

[AdHocSolver]

9. Putting all functionality into a computer is asking for trouble.

There are multiple ways that such a system can fail and leave the user without the ability for options.

Batteries can fail, fuses can blow, alternators can fail, circuit breakers can trip, the user can push the wrong button or touch the wrong area on a touch screen, and then an inconvenience can become a serious problem.

In another post, someone mentioned the concept of eliminating the steering column and replacing it with a joystick and electrical motor. What does a driver do if they are driving down the road and a short circuit blows a fuse supplying electric power to the steering mechanism?

In cars that have direct mechanical linkage, if the power steering develops problems, you can still steer the car, even though it becomes a little harder to turn the wheels.