Your Car Will Soon Sense If You're Tired Or Not Paying Attention 178
cartechboy writes "Distracted driving is a large issue, and it's getting worse as we become more entangled with our technology. To help combat this growing problem Volvo is showing off new technology that allows the car to sense when a driver is tired or not paying attention. The system bathes the driver in infrared light that can pick up the driver's position and eye movements. If the driver becomes inattentive or begins to drift off to sleep, it will alert you. Besides the safety aspect of this system, it will also be able to recognize the person sitting behind the wheel, allowing the car to tailor itself to that person's stored preferences. Further, it will be able to adjust the vehicle's exterior lighting in the direction the driver is looking based on the detected eye movement. Volvo's quick to note the system can't photograph the driver. People, the future is coming, and your vehicle is going to be watching you."
Owned by Ford, an American company (Score:2)
Remember kids, Ford owns Volvo (and Jaguar, and some others). So, when you hear "don't worry it won't photograph you", just keep that in mind.
Wrong (Score:5, Informative)
Remember kids, Ford owns Volvo (and Jaguar, and some others)
That was true about a decade ago. Ford sold Volvo to a Chinese company is 2010 [wikipedia.org] and sold Jaguar to an Indian company in 2008 [wikipedia.org].
So, when you hear "don't worry it won't photograph you", just keep that in mind.
Keep what in mind, then? That they used to own Volvo and Jaguar? I'm not sure how that is relevant.
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Wasn't it a Ford exec that admitted that their autos' sensors knew when drivers exceeded the speed limit?
(Though I'd guess they meant every time someone drives faster than 55MPH. An outdated limit now, at least in Illinois, as we have 70MPH speed limits away from populous areas.)
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Of course th car has that info. The in dash GPS usually had speed limit info these days, just to display the maximum speed for the road you are on. Assuming the GPS is on (it may be impossible to turn it off) it knows when you are speeding. That doesn't mean they should collect that data, let alone upload it to their servers. If thy do store that data it can and will be "requested" by the government. It may be that someone at Ford who decided that is too stupid to understand that.
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Neeerrrrrt! That is incorrect. The correct answer is, "Who is Greely of China."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V... [wikipedia.org]
Ford sold the Volvo Car Corporation in 2010 to Geely Automobile of China for $1.8 billion, following on from their sale of Jaguar Land Rover in 2008 and Aston Martin in 2007.
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Neeerrrrrt! That is incorrect. The correct answer is, "Who is Greely of China."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V... [wikipedia.org]
Ford sold the Volvo Car Corporation in 2010 to Geely Automobile of China for $1.8 billion, following on from their sale of Jaguar Land Rover in 2008 and Aston Martin in 2007.
Greely was an newspaper editor, who advised people to drive west on Rout 66 (or something like that.)
With this innovation, the car can get it's kicks, too.
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No, he was a Catholic priest, Andrew Greely, wrote several novels and was in general, a thorn in the backside of the Catholic church. I only recall one bit from one of his novels, it was something sci fi and the gist was G-d was should have aimed a lightning bolt at a cluster of bishops.
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Ford does not own Jaguar.
Let's all line up and bash the American cars... (Score:2)
(remember the $5 manufacturing cost they saved on each Pinto?)
The Pinto was 40 years ago. You conveniently overlooked the money they spent correcting that problem, and the fact that the Pinto has been out of production for a long time. That error didn't last the full run of the Pinto, for that matter.
But no, let's go ahead and line up to bash the American company. Need I remind you what the Japanese cars were like in the 1970s? Toyotas were barely able to reach freeway speed. Hondas were too small for a
Infrared Blind (Score:5, Insightful)
The system bathes the driver in infrared light
Anyone else feels like this is going to be a strain on our eyes?
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Studies (already linked in other responses) have shown that workplace exposure to IR radiation (e.g. working with molten glass) at what was thought to be a safe level can lead to an increased rate of development of cataracts. While I understand that this application is likely no more than a TV remote or what the Kinect already bathes Xbox users in, you can understand why some of us might want a bit more information before having it directed specifically at the eye. It may end up being that this is orders of
Car Sensors Suck (Score:2)
I'll bet it works as well as automatic headlights and automatic windshield wipers. Hell, even gas tank level sensors still suck. Engineers may design something that works, but by the time it makes it into a production vehicle it's been hacked up and cheapened and built out of flimsy plastic components to the point of being useless.
Re:Car Sensors Suck (Score:5, Interesting)
"Automotive engineers are so smart, they're stupid" - almost every mechanic I've ever met
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Engineers are like programmers. Their inclination to "do it right" is direct proportional to them being subjected to using their creation. Be honest, people, if you know you'll never ever have to use the piece of junk you create, how much effort will you put into it past what's necessary to get it to specs, even if you KNOW that the specs don't address something critical that will bite the user in the behind?
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Engineers are like programmers. Their inclination to "do it right" is direct proportional to them being subjected to using their creation. Be honest, people, if you know you'll never ever have to use the piece of junk you create, how much effort will you put into it past what's necessary to get it to specs, even if you KNOW that the specs don't address something critical that will bite the user in the behind?
That is precisely why I think all automotive engineers should have to be ASE certified mechanics first - maybe then they'll think twice about doing stupid shit like putting the goddamn fuel filter behind the brake booster.
Seriously, changing a fuel filter should not be a 2 hour job...
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That depends whether you're generating revenue on those two hours of work.
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Requiring the removal of the front end to replace a f*cking headlight is the worst I have seen.
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Be honest, people, if you know you'll never ever have to use the piece of junk you create, how much effort will you put into it past what's necessary to get it to specs, even if you KNOW that the specs don't address something critical that will bite the user in the behind?
You might get by with that if you write apps for smartphones, but not if you're doing anything serious. If one of my co-workers displayed that attitude I'd do my best to get their ass fired, but my boss would probably beat me to it. Most people will never "have to use" the flight control and target tracking software they write for a missile.
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There are certain exception to that rule. Mostly where a blunder isn't just "oh well, we'll patch it when we get around to it" but rather "they want HOW MANY millions in damages?"
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My automatic headlights and automatic wipers work perfectly. As does my auto high-beam.
So does my collision avoidance braking system,
blind spot monitoring,
traction control system,
rear cross-traffic detection,
adaptive cruise control,
parking assist radars,
keyless entry, keyless starting,
remote start, etc.
What do you have against safety and convenience features?
Why do they all have to be made of metal and weigh a ton, instead of never-rusting plastic?
Take a look at this chart [transporta...morrow.com] and tell me which part of the past
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Everything you said is false.
I mean, I can't imagine how you could be wrong on every single point, unless you are still driving that 82 Toyota.
The headlights recognize tail lights and won't go to bright when I'm following, the car can distinguish someone cutting me off, and brakes just enough to allow for the DIFFERENCE in speed, the blind spot monitoring works perfectly, (and I still turn my head because not all the cars I drive have this). Cross traffic detection is for when you are backing out of parkin
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why don't we just be good drivers and pay attention to the road and our surroundings instead of trying to have technology do it for us to the point where we completely rely on it and end up killing people when it fails?
Because people suck at paying attention and giving a fine to people who mess with their phone, drive tired or somesuch just doesn't work. Driving a car is probably the most dangerous mode of transportation (dunno about walking or biking (warning: depends on country). Definitely more dangerous than flying). Making it safer is a good plan IMHO, even intermediate measures like this (end measure is pure automated driving, manual driving will be illegal on the road).
Wake me up when... (Score:2)
Wake me up when my vehicles can drive themselves.
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Actually, if your vehicles are driving themselves, you have less reason to be awake.
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Actually, if your vehicles are driving themselves, you have less reason to be awake.
Less time focused on the road means more time to read Tech Bulletins! Yes!!!
warning: your car may swerve out of control without warning...
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Why in the name of blissful sleep would you want to be awoken then?
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Well, technically, while you are sleeping your vehicle is driving itself... not necessarily where you want it to, but while you're sleeping, you're not the driver. You're a passenger. No matter what seat you're in.
of course (Score:2)
They're not going to collect it
They won't be sending out signals to the police
They won't be sending out data to your insurance companies
They won't be collecting data for accident coverage
They won't be storing the data and combining it in other databases (ohh you just went to the gym? You just came back from your mistress's place and were tired?)
They won't be selling it to your health insurance provider (xx was driving tired for extended periods of time, must have some disease, drop coverage immediately)
Sorr
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Sorry, there's too many reasons why not to get it and very little reason to get it.
I'm normally against technologies that are designed to make the driver dumber (lane assist, brake assist, parking assist) but in this case, I'm for it. Falling asleep at the wheel is dangerous. I once fell asleep behind the wheel, I managed to turn around two corners (and I drive a manual) before I woke up. I'm not sure if I was actually asleep but I cant remember how I got from street A to street B. Scared the living crap out of me and I stopped for a break as soon as I could find a park. Fatigue is the th
No worries for me. (Score:2)
Considering that my 1998 Volvo V70 wagon (versatile) should last me another 20 years, and I'll be 73 then, this will come in handy when I'm ready to buy again. And if that dies, I still have my 2001 S60 to putz around in.
Big Deal (Score:2)
Wives and girlfriends been making use of this technology for millennia.
Can I Point it at You? (Score:2)
Being that I'm not a completely narcissistic imbecile, paying attention while driving is not an issue I have; hell, sometimes it feels like I'm the only one on the road who actually understands that the task of operating 2 tons of steel and rubber at high speeds should be the driver's primary focus. Not to say that I haven't fucked up, but I at least bothered to learn from my mistakes. Plus, I'm not so stupid/selfish/what-have-you that I would ignore fatigue and risk the lives of everyone around me by not p
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That is what I want. Active dashboard that highlights other cars with information.
Grand Am in the left lane 5 cars ahead, "Erratic Asshole tailgaiting at 80mph"
Prius ahead of you, " Hipster doing 67.2 and listening to Beck"
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That is what I want. Active dashboard that highlights other cars with information.
That would be useful, and bitchin.
Maybe instead of focusing on systems that make shitty drivers less dangerous, we should be focusing on systems that make people less shitty drivers.
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" focusing on systems that make people less shitty drivers."
That is easy. Automated cameras in cars that take photos with telemetry data and send to the police for automatic fines.
For example, punk kid cutting in a line, will he do it in front of the big 7 foot tall musclebound wrestler? will he do it in front of the guy with a pistol on his hip? or will he pick the little guy that looks defenseless?
If there were consequences do driving like a complete dooshbag people would not do it. camera in back
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" focusing on systems that make people less shitty drivers."
That is easy. Automated cameras in cars that take photos with telemetry data and send to the police for automatic fines.
Fines and "automated cameras" do not make people better drivers, evidenced by the fact that shitty drivers still exist. It just makes it easier for the government to turn shitty driving into a revenue stream and thus, give the government a disincentive to do anything about the problem.
If there were consequences do driving like a complete dooshbag people would not do it
Except, there are already consequences, and people still drive like shit.
I was thinking of something more along the lines of, you know, proper training. Criminal how most states give out licenses to operate heavy weapons after
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Make it harder to get and keep a drivers license would work, required training and retesting every few years. but the AARP will never allow that.
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Make it harder to get and keep a drivers license would work, required training and retesting every few years. but the AARP will never allow that.
And once again, blind, unbending worship of capitalism complicates the holy living shit out of something that isn't really all that complicated.
'Murica!
With magnavolt? (Score:2)
If so, then SOLD!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... [youtube.com]
Props to the Submitter (Score:2)
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for no longer linking to greencarreports.com in every single item you post.
That has to be one of the worst, fallacious "news" sites I've ever seen.
My Car Already Does That... (Score:2)
This isn't new...
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The method is new. Most (all?) current systems use the lane departure warning system and steering wheel input to determine if the driver is drowsy, but they do not put a camera on the driver themselves. The current system on my Ford doesn't seem to work very well.
Not a tech problem, not a tech solution (Score:3, Insightful)
Why does everyone think that everything can be solved with technology? Oh, right, it's easier to sell than telling everyone they mostly suck at something and that they need to get better at it than, "here's a magic $product that will fix all your problems."
The problem is not technology, the problem is not our gadgets,; the problem is our collective attitude about driving and (lack of) training. Requirements to obtain (and retain) a driver's license in some countries would be shocking to most people in North America. Our standards are pathetic and woefully inadequate. Oh, you can follow some basic instructions that a chimp could do for 15 minutes? Here, now you can drive anything outside of a big rig, motorcycle or bus (unless it's an RV, because apparently, having fewer passengers magically turns it into an agile sports sedan... or something), including hauling your big-ass 5th wheel.
That shit doesn't fly in places where driving is taken seriously. Just Google "driving license in [European country]" and wait for your jaw to drop.
If we actually trained people to have vehicular and situational awareness, they would realize that it's a bad idea to be dicking around with their gizmos while operating a multi-ton projectile around hundreds of other multi-ton projectiles, pedestrians, cyclists and municipal structures... and we wouldn't be trying to develop bullshit tech like this or legislating laws ripe for abuse.
That kind of training takes years of practice, not 15 minutes in a mostly controlled situation. But you can't put that in a box and slap on a price sticker.
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The problem is not technology, the problem is not our gadgets,; the problem is our collective attitude about driving and (lack of) training. Requirements to obtain (and retain) a driver's license in some countries would be shocking to most people in North America. Our standards are pathetic and woefully inadequate. Oh, you can follow some basic instructions that a chimp could do for 15 minutes? Here, now you can drive anything outside of a big rig, motorcycle or bus (unless it's an RV, because apparently, having fewer passengers magically turns it into an agile sports sedan... or something), including hauling your big-ass 5th wheel.
Ex-father by law is a truck driver and has a fit that no extra training or licensing is required for the RV's, 5th wheels, or such; and one point we do agree on. (USA)
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Even the best drivers make mistakes. It's human nature, unavoidable. Safety devices make sense because we know that no matter how good the training is there will be failures.
The US does seem particularly bad, which is why for example I can exchange by UK license for Japanese one any time I like but an American has to take a further Japanese test. Even so, we have plenty of accidents due to drivers being distracted or tired.
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I don't think autonomous cars are the panacea they're being made out to be. Even setting aside the legal liability implications, the technology are a *long* way off. The number of variables is impossibly infinite: unpredictable road textures, surface degradation, faded or illegible markings, poor signage, weather conditions, oddly engineered intersections and traffic features, malfunctioning traffic equipment, unexpected barriers, construction crews, wildlife... really, *anything* that isn't absolutely an
Blue is the new Infrared. (Score:2)
From TFS and TFA:
The system bathes the driver in infrared light ...
Yet in both TFA photos, the light is drawn in blue.
My car already has a sensor to wake me up... (Score:2)
Headline is wrong (Score:2)
MY car will not have this feature. Not until hell freezes over and there is no way to own and drive a car without it. A lot, or even maybe all, new cars may have it, but NOT MY car.
Nope (Score:2)
Mine won't. And neither will my next car.
One word... (Score:2)
What I want to see (Score:2, Funny)
Car senses driver texting.
disengages seat-belt lock, quick slam on the brakes and release, bouncing their face off the steering wheel.
Dash shows message "Put down the fucking phone and drive, asshole."
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ROFLMAO. God I hope they implement this. Good one kind sir. :)
Its already here (Score:2)
My 2014 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk with the Advanced Technology Group brings adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning and mitigation, and blind-spot monitoring with cross-path detection with "lane assist" that will keep you in your lane and sound a warning and vibrate the wheel.
Re:Not If I don't buy it (Score:5, Insightful)
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Perhaps there would be incentives in form of reduced insurance premiums. (That would actually make perfect sense, insurance companies tend to give benefits to people exhibiting responsible behavior.)
"Reasonable" is subjective. For example, some people may find the idea of your insurance company goading you into willfully installing a tracking device [progressive.com] as reasonable; many people, myself included, disagree.
I think you're suffering from a case of confirmation bias here.
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"Responsible" people have no need of this (Score:2)
That would actually make perfect sense, insurance companies tend to give benefits to people exhibiting responsible behavior.
People exhibiting responsible behaviour have no need of a system to watch them and enforce rules. They would not drive when they felt very tired because it would be dangerous to do so. The only reason for the insurance companies to want this is because they are not sure that you are a responsible person.
The problem is with a system like this is that it has to never give a false positive. Even if one time in a million it gives a false positive there will be thousands of people every year who will suddenl
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Re:Not If I don't buy it (Score:5, Insightful)
Yeah, and I hate how that evil government makes me purchase seat belts and air bags. And brakes, not just that, but brakes that meet safety standards. Stupid government "knowing best".
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Seat belts are a stupid requirement since adults don't have to wear them in my state (New Hampshire).
Freedom includes the freedom to do stupid things.
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I'd like a massaging driver's seat, but I'm not going to demand that every vehicle have one just to suit my own desire.
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If emergency responders are traumatized by seeing blood and gore, they may have chosen the wrong career. That would be like a surgeon who faints at the sight of blood.
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Cloakroom attendants are used to seeing human waste, that doesn't mean I do my business on the floor. Firefighters sometimes come across charred bodies, but that's no reason not to take basic precautions against fires.
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So sue my dead body, authoritarian tool.
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Any driver safety feature provides safety not only for the driver but also for all other drivers and people around the road. Whether each and every of those features should be made mandatory is
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Yeah, this was far more of a sarcastic post than an honest attempt to debate the idea on merit. I wasn't really presenting a serious case, but neither was the AC.
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Then I shall allow it.
Hey, what's that 'whooshing' sound I hear?
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This is the stupidest post.
"these safety measures only protect people in the car"
"brakes"
The mind boggles.
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In Soviet Russia - Car buys YOU!
MORE TINFOIL! (Score:2)
I always feel like Michael Jackson's watching meeeee.....
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Sadly, most people probably couldn't follow the instructions to install the rear view cam. You don't want a mirror cam anyway, the mirrors suck.
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I know people who would buy this in a heartbeat. (Especially if it reduces insurance costs).
Rear cams are not that essential. They are nice to have.
Collision avoidance radar, braking systems, lane monitoring and blind spot monitoring systems are getting cheap, and some combinations of these components are showing up on sub $20K cars.
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Even rear view cameras are still incredibly pricey add ons for most cars. I doubt much of this will be forced on us ( though with the current administration "knowing best" for how I should spend my money, who know)
The first cars didn't have rear view mirrors, and an unreliable source claimed the police worked hard to not have them installed as the drivers could see they were being followed.I could see it as being true due to my run-ins over tinted windows, they couldn't see in and didn't like that.
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Even rear view cameras are still incredibly pricey add ons for most cars. I doubt much of this will be forced on us ( though with the current administration "knowing best" for how I should spend my money, who know)
The cost to provide it is just a small fraction of what they charge for it.
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Look kids, Big Ben! Parliament!
Look kids, Big Ben! Parliament!
Look kids, Big Ben! Parliament!
Look kids, Big Ben! Parliament!
Look kids, Big Ben! Parliament!
...
it appears to be hung in an infinite loop
Re:In Soviet Russia (Score:4, Funny)
You will be watching your car watching YOU!
Bloodhound Gang (Score:3)
You got your Jesus on the dashboard
But the Devil's under my hood
You're takin' it down legal, I'm pullin' it up to no good
God is your copilot, I let Satan ride shotgun
You pay a toll to get to Heaven
But on the road to hell there's none
Get up you're asleep at the wheel
Get up you're asleep at the wheel
Get up you're asleep at the wheel
Get up you're asleep at the wheel
Get up you're asleep at the wheel
Get up you're asleep at the wheel
Get up you're asleep at the wheel
Get up you're asleep at the wheel
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Bull.
Does your car fail to start if you don't buckle your seat belt?
Does your car not work if your tail light goes out or your turn signal fails?
If you disable your front collision avoidance system does your car not work?
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What electrical issues? None of those affect driveability.
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And yet not one hit on that behavior on Google. Weird.
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How many times are you going to post the same nonsense?
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Get ready kids... Car are about to become extremely annoying.
ding ...
You door is ajar
ding
You door is ajar
ding
Done been there.
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Car: Ding, ding ding, your door is ajar, your door is ajar.
Owner: I know, fuck off.
Car: Ding, ding, ding, your door continues to be ajar, your door continues to be ajar.
Owner: Blow it out your ass.
Car: DING, DING, DING, You are failing to recognize a serious condition, I would like to talk to you about this. You are failing to recognize a serious condition, I would like to talk to you about it.
Owner: Cram it, I'm armed.
Car: DING, DONG, DING, DONG, I will be forced to inform your insurance company if we do n
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Because you didn't opt out in time.
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And when I'm horny will it drive to a Motel 6 and try to fuck me ?
That would be an OnStar extra for those who have it installed on 5 or more vehicles, "I need laid".
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Well, they were focused slightly to the left before Johnny Dickbag replaced them with HID and pointed them and the identical fucking HID fog lamps straight ahead.