Honda Driving Simulator

Have you ever spent time teaching someone to drive?

That first tentative look at the ignition.  The way their eyes light up as the engine and instrument cluster come to life.  It’s impressive to watch a new-born driver look around the cabin and feel the steering wheel, seated where they have never sat before.  The innocence is refreshing.

…and if it’s a manual.  The unsureness in the face of the new-born as you attempt to explain the “friction point”, motioning your hands as though you were controlling the accelerator and clutch from the passenger seat.  Explaining twice more prior to letting them loose.

You tell them, “ok… clutch in, grab first… now, just slowly let your left foot up. VERY SLOWLY! Don’t do anything else, just slowly lift that left foot up till you feel the engine start to load up.  Can you feel that?  That’s the friction point, that’s telling you it wants some gas.  So, at this point you can start to push down on the accelerator, and whilst you do that,  keep lifting your left foot off the clutch till it’s all the way off.”

The whole time, you’re motioning with your hands.  Even if they’re not looking.

It’s all innocent and exciting at this point.  Just like your first sexual experience.

…Then everything goes to hell.  Arguments commence, and if the new driver is of the female variety, sometimes tears.  (kinda like your first relationship?)

So Honda have come to the rescue.  They now have a new Driving Simulator for sale.

Features include:

• Easy-to-understand graphics and/or written descriptions of conditions where the driver should be cautious, as well as how the driver can ensure safe driving in potentially dangerous situations that have a high possibility of occurring in the real world.
• 2-axis motion base type.
• high-definition 42-inch LCD displays.
• easy-to-operate touch-panel monitor.
• A function that displays the driving result after the simulation driving.
• ”Night mode,” “Fog mode” and “Highway experience version”.

I think having one of these to teach someone to drive would stop many arguments.  There’d be no, “BUT I WAS DOING THAT!”

…because all you’d have to do is say, “Look, the machine’s telling you you didn’t.”

source: Akhibara News