Re:We still don't have a lot of 'em.... (Score 2, Insightful)

I was amazed when I went to Japan two weeks ago, just how many cars had TVs/LCD navigation systems and the like. My Fiancée's parents owned a 10 year old Toyota sedan and it had a 6" TV (although reception came and went), power everything, including rear seat recliners w/ vibrating massagers, a separate cassette deck in the rear seats, with seperate AC heat CD controls, etc... All of this was original to when they bought the car in 1993. I'm not sure what other features it had but I can imagine they take all the electronics to a similar "next level". These things would probably not be a good idea for your average US driver. But as far as I could tell the Japanese drove amazingly well. You have to realize how much harder it is to drive in Japan in the first place (at least in the urban areas I visited) The hords of lil' cars, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, busses, trains, and shool children and lil' ol ladys on thier way to the market, all fighting for position. Sure I saw a couple fender benders and one more serious accident, but the number of people using the streets has to be huge! I think driving is taken much more seriously in most other parts of the world. We feel it is our right to drive, and when we're 16 damn it! I think you should have to beable to pass some sort of erratic manuver simulation test before you get a licence. Just to see what the person does when they are facing the unexpected. Jevfro, out