DB22

As I have said in numerous posts: It is obvious that car designers never drive the cars they design.

Richard Solomon

I was going to let this sub-thread go on by, but I do feel compelled to point out:

I think this was the issue - that irenesbob was testing the system vs using it. In normal operation, presumably he would have been in reverse, so his back up lights would be on, and he would be signaling right (as he's in NY and presumably parking on the right, but either way he'd be signaling TO THE CURB) so all indications to other drivers would be correct.

I actually viewed the "blinker" usage in this situation as quite natural, since the driver would want to indicate to other vehicles what he was doing. Once long ago I considered wiring in a switch to let me turn my backup light(s) on BEFORE selecting reverse, so other vehicles would be aware that I was preparing to back into a parking spot (for example).


Even irenesbob noted that his behavior was confusing in this instance, but the leap to "the car is designed wrong" is one I don't accept here.

DB22

Let me re-phrase the comment: The cars implementation could be improved upon by allowing the movement of the parking assistance block in the display without incorrectly indicating to other road users approaching from behind. E.G. make the block flip/flop sides when the steering wheel moves left or right of center without affecting the indication to approaching vehicles (only when in reverse and the park assist is selected).

Richard Solomon

I won't even quibble with that - just let me select the block placement with the MMI controls I'm using to select parallel parking mode - but the only way the current implementation is "incorrectly indicating to other road users approaching from behind" is when the turn signals are "incorrectly" operated.

Maybe it's not the best way to select the block placement, but in normal operation the driver won't indicate left when he's sitting on the right about to park on the right

My point was that the system behaved logically, it was irenesbob's testing procedure that caused confusion - a point he made in the original posting (before he then "blamed" the design ).

P.S. I always read irenesbob as "Irene's Bob"....

DB22

So do I - is that wrong?

irenesbob

That is correct.

I was "testing", but in NY there are instances where one can park with the curb on the right (most 2-way streets) as well as on the left (typically one way streets). I tried it both ways and did have the car in reverse with backup camera on. I believe most people don’t take much notice if your backup lights are on and you are at the curb wedged between two cars: the likelihood of your car entering the lane of traffic would be minimal. However, once they see the turn signal flash, and perhaps a momentary forward motion (I did jiggle around), they then open their eyes and use those brains.

I was really thinking that selecting the parking aid might cancel the turn signal (momentarily at least) until the car starts moving forward. A passerby I know confirmed they were blinking even while in reverse, but I have not tried to verify that myself. This is not a big deal. I would rather use the old fashioned "crane the neck around 20 times” approach until they offer a more sophisticated and bullet proof parking assist in the US.

Bob's(ex)irene -

lol! Freedom is great!

DB22

So you were Irene's Bob but you fixed that problem?

irenesbob

yep, even without a warranty and, it cost me nothing -lol

newmoon

I think the parallel parking display works perfectly fine as is. Because you normally drive past the parking spot and have to put your indicator on anyway to let the person behind you know that you intend to park there, so they need to leave space for you to back up, or they can go around.

Even if you don't use your indicator, the display defaults to parking on the more common right side.

And in the A6, the display still shows the guide for the non-selected side, but in light blue.

irenesbob

OK - agreed. I withdraw my negative comments about it, but still will not be using it. I guess the thing was designed for more than "testing sessions."