Just completed my first long drive in the Puma (from Cheshire to London and back - M6, M6 Toll, M42, M40, M25) to drop my daughter off at University. It gave me a good opportunity to test the features I hadn't used. One of which was the lane keeping system.

On the way down, I switched it off. I found the Puma to be typically a little skittish at speed. This is typical of a car with a shorter wheel base, and I was expecting it.

For the return journey, I switched it on, and I found that it really improved the motorway driving experience and wasn't intrusive at all. It seemed to handle better at speed too. I felt less tired at the end of the trip.

Being a natural skeptic about new things, I'm interested whether anyone has had any issues with Driver Assistance doing things you didn't expect. Just looking to balance the pros and cons of letting the tech take over.

Interesting. The Puma has a slightly longer wheelbase than the Fiesta (2588 vs 2493) and I've not found any of my Fiestas skittish on the M-way.

I've certainly had issues in the past with Lane Keeping trying to steer me back towards the hazard I'm trying to avoid. Similarly I've had Wrong Way Alert go off when I've been driving in the right direction in the correct lane. Perhaps the system in the latest Puma has been improved.

Intelligent Speed Assist often fails to read signs correctly (more the fault of missing, dirty, hidden or badly placed signs than the system, to be fair.)

I'm happy to leave ESP on, but most of this stuff gets a "no thanks" from me.

 

37 minutes ago, Rich1969 said:

For the return journey, I switched it on, and I found that it really improved the motorway driving experience and wasn't intrusive at all. It seemed to handle better at speed too. I felt less tired at the end of the trip.

The placebo effect I would suspect. Lane keeping doesn't alter the driving characteristics of the car, certainly will not make it "handle better at speed"

The only thing in its favour is that it makes you use your indicator when changing lanes, which is something that we all should be doing anyway although I normally only do that when I think it is necessary.

It doesn't make the car handle better unless you have shaky hands and are inadvertently moving the Steering Wheel normally.

The only time I use it is when I'm doing a long Motorway type of journey, often the morning after the night before and I do find that it makes me concentrate more under these circumstances.

@Eric Bloodaxe on the subject of skittish, it's all relative. I'm comparing it to my previous focus, mondeo and other larger cars. I've noticed the speed assist can be wrong at times, and I don't rely on it. Yes, I can see how it may resist evasive action and will keep that in mind.

@unofix You do know that the resistance to lane change is a firmness and handling characteristic, don't you? 

22 minutes ago, Rich1969 said:

You do know that the resistance to lane change is a firmness and handling characteristic, don't you? 

You would only ever encounter a firmness or resistance to the steering if you were wondering about. Most people would only encounter that 'characteristic' occasionally. I suppose it is all relative to an individuals driving ability, which is perhaps why the EU felt the need to thrust the function upon everyone.

36 minutes ago, unofix said:

I suppose it is all relative to an individuals driving ability, which is perhaps why the EU felt the need to thrust the function upon everyone.

I've always taken the view that further driver training post test would have made a far greater contribution to safety than most* of these nannying systems.

We have Driver CPC for those with "vocational" licences, perhaps something similar for all licence holders would have been useful, along with periodic eyesight tests. Even something along the lines of speed awareness courses (without the "sackcloth and ashes") element, would be helpful.

(*but not all - I wouldn't be without ABS and ESP for example, but they just unobtrusively get on with the job of assisting, rather than interfering with, the driver).

9 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

(*but not all - I wouldn't be without ABS and ESP

Not essential but I would also include Pre Collision Assist, Blind Spot Information System and Rear View Camara.

I agree about Eye Tests. I bet that almost all of the people who complain about their standard Headlights need eyesight help in low light situations, it's an ageing thing for most people.

2 minutes ago, Tizer said:

Blind Spot Information System and Rear View Camara.

But then, if cars had the visibility they used to, you wouldn't need them. I guess its all a bit of a trade-off between seeing what might hit you and reducing the consequences if it actually does!😀

Has a older driver/mechanic I must admit I appreciate some of the new features in my new puma, drove around Scotland nc500 last September and warning came on to stop for a break a few times and it was dead on, ie I was wondering slightly because I was tired 🥱 it makes me smile when people complain that there’s something wrong with brakes because the brake pedal judders when braking hard in wet conditions, ie abs is working correctly 😏 bring back the days when you had to be a good driver to drive well, or maybe not now I’m a old man ☹️ agree about eye tests, in bright daylight I’m okay without glasses, but in dull light I need them, do I always put them on 😕 honestly no, sorry 😔 

 

 

10 hours ago, StanTroke said:

Has a older driver/mechanic I must admit I appreciate some of the new features in my new puma, drove around Scotland nc500 last September and warning came on to stop for a break a few times and it was dead on, ie I was wondering slightly because I was tired 🥱 it makes me smile when people complain that there’s something wrong with brakes because the brake pedal judders when braking hard in wet conditions, ie abs is working correctly 😏 bring back the days when you had to be a good driver to drive

Yesterday I parked at a friend's house and he has a steep driveway that had thick, compacted ice and snow at the top. When it was time to leave, I was having trouble getting the car up the last few feet of the drive. So I changed setting to slippery road and with a few more goes I finally got out. I'm normally very good in snow, but that setting is very useful for particularly challenging situations.