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Comment by gf000 | Hacker News Reader

For not letting people snooze off behind the wheel?

It's so incredible the difference in mindset across the Atlantic.

In the US, it is MY job and no one else's to make sure I don't fall asleep driving my own car. In the same way it's my job to make sure I don't leave my stove on and burn down the apartment building. Should we also install cameras on every stove in every apartment?

If the US government tried to force-install cameras into our cars to watch us, there'd be a revolution.

The US passed a law in 2021 to require new cars to monitor driver alertness. The implementing regulations are being finished and it could apply to new cars as soon as 2027.

can you point to this law please? I can find news articles referencing that something may or may not happen but I can't find that this actually went into practice

The law in question is the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which was enacted in 2021 [1].

Section 24209 requires regulators to research driver monitoring systems to deal with driver distraction, disengagement, automation complacency, and misuse of driver automation systems, and then to either start the rule making to implement such monitoring or report to Congress explaining why it cannot be done.

Section 24220 might also be relevant. That section is dealing with drunk and impaired driving, and part of that will be monitoring driver performance.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3684...

I'm fairly sure you have cops, driving licenses, traffic stops, DUI etc. So no. It's not your job alone to "drive safely", you are literally controlling tons of mass moving at high speeds that can trivially (and very frequently) kill innocent bystanders that did NOT ask to be hit by a car, or get into an accident. Why is your "freedom" above their basic safety?

If anything, the incredible thing is this "me-only" mindset that many have.

Death by a thousand cuts. It never stops at just one thing.

Car: You look tired. There's a motel in 3 miles.

Car: You appear to be suffering from acne. Try Zit-away, available at the convenience store in 2.4 kilometers.

Car: Facial recognition failed. Car is now disabled. Contact your car dealer to reenable vehicle.

Car: You are politically active for the wrong party. Doors locked. Battery will now catch fire.

That third one sounds like it would be fun trying to explain to your boss.

The last one sounds eerily similar to what a for-profit company would do in case of a terminated subscription, that would be perfectly fine in the US, but would get purged by fire in the EU by proper laws that meant to protect the public.

I guess it's just hard to imagine that the government may work FOR the people?

Slippery slope is a fallacy for a reason. No, they even mandate fastening the seatbelts! Oh my, this tyranny!

if I'm that tired I don't think a beep mixed with road noise and radio would wake me up anyway

There are plenty of cars with similar features already. If anything, they make you aware that you are tired, so that you may choose to have a rest at the next stop or something.

Perfect is the enemy of good. If it prevents some people from falling a sleep and causing an accident that's excellent.

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