8 ms·
I'd love to see some sort of multiple regression or ANOVA on this, instead of singling out a single variable. Is car brand really the best independent predictor
by bunderbunder 2y ago
I'd love to see some sort of multiple regression or ANOVA on this, instead of singling out a single variable. Is car brand really the best independent predictor? Or is it specific design decisions you tend to see in certain brands?
(Like, say, maximizing driver distraction by consolidating a bunch of essential controls and information displays into a touchscreen display that's really difficult to operate when it's sunny outside. Just to pick something at random, of course.)
Somewhat related, I was recently shopping for refrigerators, and fell down a data rabbit hole. If you just look at the overall style of fridge, French doors look like a terrible option from a reliability perspective. But then, digging in a bit more, it turns out that's kind of a spurious correlation. Actually it's the presence of bells and whistles like through-door ice dispensers that kill a refrigerator's reliability. And then perhaps on top of that the amount of extra Rube Goldberg machine you need to make a chest height ice dispenser work in a bottom-freezer French door refrigerator creates even more moving parts to break. But a those problems don't apply to a model that doesn't have that feature.
- doctorpangloss 2y agoIt's an interesting perspective. I was recently shopping for shoes, and a fully closed shoe had more places where it could break compared to my flip flops. That's why whenever you are doing a dangerous activity, flip flops are recommended.
- bunderbunder 2y agoI'm not entirely sure an anecdote about the dangers of singling out just one variable is a great counterpoint to a criticism of the practice of singling out just one variable.
- TheGamerUncle 2y agoNick Mullen may disagree
- stego-tech 2y agoI mean, even lacking proper scientific data, ask yourself how often your brain “autocompletes” someone based on a brand or object? There’s a reason advertisers spend so much money and effort cultivating a very specific customer image: it works. In the case of Tesla - and I cannot overstress enough how much lf this is purely subjective conjecture on my part and not a statement of fact - the image cultivated by the company and its Chief Executive is very much one of rejecting norms and expectations, fierce independence, and a hostility towards others (mostly from the Cybertruck unveiling onward). The people who relate to that brand would, I would think, be more likely to flout laws like speed limits, failing to use indicators for turns or merges, and drive more aggressively than a brand that emphasizes safety or enjoyment of experience (like Hondas and Toyotas). My purely subjective experiences bear this out, and I’m consistently rewarded giving Teslas a wider berth on the roads. So as far as branding as an indicator of outcome, yeah, I can totally see that being a reliable indicator. I’d still be darn curious to see more research about it, though.
- interestica 2y agoYou highlighted the correlation. I bet GoPro users have the highest fatality rate of all camera brands.
- robertlagrant 2y agoYou should see the average injuries for mountain bikes over all bikes. Mountain bikes must just be really badly made!
- sshine 2y ago> The people who relate to that brand would, I would think, be more likely to flout laws like speed limits, failing to use indicators for turns or merges, and drive more aggressively than a brand that emphasizes safety or enjoyment of experience And BMW owners like German shepherds?
- stego-tech 2y agoOh heck, we could go down the list car forum style if we’re not careful. So many stereotypes.
- jameskraus 2y agoI’d love to read any analysis you’ve done like this, or any reading you might recommend.
- cowpig 2y agoCheck out the study, it's linked to in the article: https://www.iseecars.com/most-dangerous-cars-study#v=2024 https://www.iseecars.com/most-dangerous-cars-study#v=2024
- bilsbie 2y agoI was thinking for my next fridge to just buy a plain cheap one and then buy a cheap countertop ice cube maker. Since that’s the thing that always breaks on the fridges. And it adds like $500 to the price.
- _dark_matter_ 2y agoMine is French door without a front ice maker/water, and I love it. Way more room in the fridge too. Just open the bottom to get ice.
- interestica 2y agoDedicated Ice Makers can be quite good and fast at what they do too.
- jdietrich 2y agoThe Tesla Model Y is a two ton SUV with the performance of a Porsche 911. The base RWD model is fast and the Performance model is stupidly fast. I don't think anyone would be particularly surprised to learn that Porsche drivers get into a lot of fatal accidents.
- technothrasher 2y agoThe top most model of the Model Y is as fast in a straight line as the lowest base model 911, and the handling isn't even close to the same. Saying the Model Y has the performance of the 911 is not really an accurate statement.
- CarVac 2y agoThe straight-line performance is exactly what makes it dangerous.
- mauvehaus 2y agoTo be more precise, it's probably the disparity between straight-line performance and cornering performance that gets people in real trouble.
- m463 2y ago> A focused, alert driver I dislike how tesla kills situational awareness. It is the central touchscreen. The model 3 and y and cybertruck put everything there - both status and control. You have to look to the side to see the speed of the vehicle, and the gearshift is on the touchscreen. The S and X both retain a dashboard in front of you, but most of the controls moved to the touchscreen. And the removal of stalks from all models have moved turn signals to steering wheel buttons, and most of the rest to the touchscreen. I think the cars are really well designed, it is just that these user interface choices make you worse driver.
- childintime 2y ago[flagged]
- bonestamp2 2y agoMy fridge has been repaired twice, the first time within its first year. Both times, each repair guy said the same thing: Avoid LG and Samsung. Avoid counter depth. I have no idea if that's accurate, so I'm curious if your data dive backs up either of those notes?
- BLKNSLVR 2y agoWhat is "counter depth"?
- duderific 2y agoIt's a shallower style refrigerator, that doesn't "stick out" past the depth of the counters next to it.
- EasyMark 2y agomaybe that's why my 12 year old samsung fridge seems fine. no repairs yet, but I've been expecting it to die anyday according to the internets. of course it could also be that samsung is the most popular brand for fridges in the USA
- riffraff 2y agoMy Samsung fridge (in Europe) died after 12 years, and the tech guy said it actually lasted more than average as they used to have some experimental compressor back then. But he also said they have since improved that, and indeed, now samsung fridges come with a 20 year warranty on their compressor.
- mathgeek 2y agoI assume the issues with counter depth and reliability are due to them not compromising mich on internal volume (thus reducing the heat dissipation ability around the compressor). Most folks are going to buy purely based on volume inside. Compressor failing was what killed our Samsung but at the end of the day these appliances are cheap enough to let folks choose what they value.
- aziaziazi 2y ago> essential controls Can’t you drive a Tesla without it? I expect the screen was for radio, gps, AC… I agree those are distracting through.
- jvanderbot 2y agoRent a Tesla and try to adjust the mirrors while driving I dare you. Less difficult but much more common: Change the radio station / music. Change the climate control. Both of those require taking your eyes off the road and navigating through multiple touch screen-only modal windows. I have owned one for years and it is a distraction factory.
- aziaziazi 2y agoI get it but Climate and Music can wait right? It’s a vehicle not an entertainment room. And adjusting mirors while driving seems crazy and dangerous!! changing something that supposed to be set before departure? At least that’s what taught at driving school and written in texts I guess… too sad the distraction factory is so dangerous. I wouldn’t drive that.
- bunderbunder 2y agoEngineers should not ask reality to adapt to their designs; they should adapt their designs to reality.
- duderific 2y agoI dunno, I adjust climate and music frequently while driving. I have a Volvo now which requires touchscreen for those things, and I can't stand it. Otherwise a great car though. After a while you "learn" to do it without looking at the screen too much. Nonetheless, it's far inferior to having tactile controls.
- buffington 2y agoThe mirror's angle can change, while driving, in such a way that pulling over to stop and fix it isn't the safest option. With dedicated tactile controls you can adjust mirrors without taking your eyes off the road, while also verifying that the mirrors are adjusted correctly. I think the number of people who can say that they have never needed to adjust mirrors while moving, even after having spent a few minutes adjusting them in the driveway, is very much next to zero.
- valval 2y agoIt’s also worth noting that sample sizes in this study are low, and without checking I know the results aren’t statistically significant.
- daft_pink 2y agoWhile I think that a single variable isn't always very useful, when something is an outlier and people are moving from other luxury brands with much lower rates to a new brand and experiencing high rates, there is definitely something wrong. I'm guessing that while the total accident rate declines with automation, that the serious accident rate is increasing, because a human driver drives in a risk adjusted way and takes less care to avoid minor accidents and more care to avoid serious accidents, but when a robot find itself unable to drive the errors are more evenly distributed or even more likely to result in a serious accident, because its doing things idiotically with no sense of self preservation.