A driving instructor has said there’s one feature of modern cars that she ‘genuinely hates’, as although she knows what it’s used for, she thinks it’s ‘bad for the car’
The driving instructor hates one thing about modern cars (stock photo)(Image: GETTY)
Modern cars have lots of bells and whistles that are supposed to make driving easier, but there are plenty of people who can’t stand the new additions. We’ve come a long way since the birth of the motor vehicle, and even now, changes are being made every year to bring new technology to vehicles – including adding air conditioning, swapping manual window controls for electric, and even adding rear-view cameras to help make parking a breeze.
These changes are designed to make driving easier and safer, as in many cases they allow the driver to focus on the road rather than fiddling with winding their window down or bumping the car behind them when trying to squeeze into a tight parallel parking spot. But according to one driving instructor on social media, not every new technology added to modern cars has been a good idea – as there’s one thing she “genuinely hates”.
Aman Sanghera, owner of London-based driving school Clearview Driving, said she can’t stand the “stop-start” technology included some modern cars, which automatically switches off the engine whenever the vehicle comes to a complete stop, and starts it again once the driver is ready to move.
The technology is designed to cut down on fuel consumption and emissions, and while Aman believes it can be useful in situations when you’re stuck in traffic or stopped at a red light, she hates that it kicks in whenever she’s stopped for just a few seconds at a junction.
She said: “I genuinely hate the stop-start technology that you have in modern cars. I completely get what it’s there for; it’s to stop the car idling when you’re waiting completely at a red light because it’s bad for the environment and bad for everyone around you for you to just have those exhaust fumes going out.
“But, if you imagine you’re driving in a town where there’s give-way junctions one after the other, and most give-way junctions in the town are closed, so you can’t see the new road until you get to the very end. So, as I get to that give-way junction, I pause. That pause might only be for a mere five seconds because I’m looking, scanning, making sure it’s clear.
“But in the time that I pause, the engine switches off, which is very annoying because five seconds later, I’m going to go again. As soon as I get my foot off the brake, the engine restarts. So having the car do that constantly throughout the drive is really bad for the car.”
Aman said that she often turns the function off as soon as she gets in a car that has it. She said she would much prefer to switch the engine off manually when she knows she’s going to be waiting for a while, such as at the car wash or in completely stand-still traffic.
Is stop-start technology bad for my car?
The driving instructor’s main issue with the technology is that she believes it is “bad for the car” because the engine is continually being switched on and off for very short periods of time. But according to The AA, this is a “common worry” that isn’t true – as cars that have this feature are fitted with reinforced starter motors and batteries that can handle the frequent restarts.
The AA’s website states: “There’s a common worry that frequent starting and stopping can harm the engine. However, stop-start systems are designed to prevent engine damage by using reinforced starter motors and batteries that can handle frequent restarts. These systems ensure that the engine only stops and starts under optimal conditions, reducing wear and tear on engine components and maintaining durability.”
The AA also stated that, while the system does put extra demand on the battery, cars with this technology come equipped with stronger batteries to handle the load. Still, they recommend “regular maintenance checks” to help ensure your battery stays in top condition.
What are the benefits of stop-start technology?
Fuel consumption and efficiency
Stop-start systems can help you save on fuel by reducing your idling times, especially in urban areas where you’re likely to be stopping and starting your car several times during the course of your drive. By not idling your car at traffic lights and junctions, your car isn’t using fuel while it’s waiting for you to drive off.
Environmental impact
Switching off your engine when you’re idling also reduces your environmental impact. According to The AA, you significantly decrease the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by your vehicle when you use stop-start technology.
