We have earlier noted that the U.S. government now determines for its subjects what features they must have and cannot have on their automobiles. The following are some of the items on a list compiled by Popular Science of just a few of the contraband things you dare not install on your car but which are available in other countries.
DYNAMIC HIGH BEAMS. This feature uses a complex array of electronics and sensors to automatically dim the only the portion of the high beam headlights which would blind an oncoming driver in the opposite lane while fully continuing to illuminate everything else. The USA permits only devices which totally shut down all of both high beams--a feature first introduced by Oldsmobile in 1952.
DYNAMIC LIGHT SPOT. This is an infrared beam which detects pedestrians on the road at night and shines a spotlight on them in time for the driver to see them and take evasive action.
STROBE BRAKE LIGHTS. These are brake lights which flash rapidly during a panic stop to alert following drivers that they had better consider slamming on their own brakes. A normal slow braking would simply cause the brake lights to glow brightly but not strobe, just like they do now.
REAR-VIEW MIRROR CAMERA. It is illegal in America to replace the interior rear-view mirror with a camera which shows what is behind you--even though the camera could provide a wider view and eliminate the notorious blind spot.
REMOTE-MOUNT MAGNETIC CAMERA. You cannot in the USA install detachable remote cameras to help you see blind spots.
LIGHTWEIGHT SEATS. The government says they are not safe, although I would think that I would rather have a lightweight seat pushing me forward against my seat belt in the event of a crash rather than a heavy behemoth.
ASPHERICAL MIRRORS. These are external mirrors which are curved in such a way as to eliminate the blind spot.
Click here to see how all of this federal regulation started.
Click here to see how all of this federal regulation started.
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