Growing complexity as a comfort killer
Growing complexity as a comfort killer
Nonetheless, the number of people who use a passenger car on a daily basis is increasing. Especially those who commute more than 25 kilometers to and from their place of work: 84 percent of employed people in Germany who have to cover distances of between 25 and 50 kilometers (twice) on every working day tend to use their car. Across the board, the car remains the number one form of transport, and that is true of everyone. Even in the year 2040, it will still be the guarantor of flexibility in terms of time and place.
However, and to a growing extent, it is wishful thinking to believe that you can get from A to B quickly and in a relaxed manner. It is not just traffic congestion that costs time. The search for a parking space at your destination can quickly make a mockery of your personal schedule. In Britain for example, car drivers spend more than 40 hours a year looking for parking spaces. Another damper on automotive liberty and comfort is applied by the increasingly complex road traffic situation. Traffic signs now resemble a forest, one that has been growing unimpeded for years. In Germany, any one of an increasingly complex range of traffic signs will be encountered on average every 28 meters. The operation of a vehicle is also becoming ever more complex. Years ago, a rotary switch was all you needed to operate the air conditioner, quickly and without having to look. Today, drivers have to look at a touch display and scroll their way through menus and sub-menus.
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