By Jeffrey Cohen | Sports Editor
One of the notable features in Teslas is the screen. There are significantly more things a Tesla driver can use the dashboard screen for than most cars.
It has gone beyond things that are useful for driving. People can watch Netflix or play games on the screen while also getting more options for driving-related settings, like adjusting automatic lights or opening the trunk.
It seems like Teslas are only the beginning, as manufacturers are pushing for more technology in their cars. All this technology dilutes the act of driving and the joy that can come from it.
Over the summer, I drove my 1995 Ford Ranger from Houston to High Point, North Carolina, for my summer internship. I feared the 18-hour drive because it was the longest drive I have ever made, and I had to do it in a 30-year-old truck that takes a good amount of effort to accelerate.
While driving through the South, I realized how enjoyable that drive is and witnessed the nature and sights across seven states. One of the best parts of that drive was that I got to just drive without a big screen in my face. I was able to “just drive.”
The Bible Belt isn’t even considered a particularly beautiful region of the U.S., but driving through it for two days without technology distracting me allowed me to appreciate the area.
It almost felt pure. I didn’t hear a notification when there was a car in my blind spot or have an extended phone screen glare at me. It was only me, my music and the open road.
One of the most sacred ways of traveling is the road trip. Taking a trip, whether it’s around the state or across the country, has become something that turns into one of the most memorable experiences in a person’s life. It can bring about stories that are recounted years after they happened or sights that create a deep longing to return.
Road trips like that encapsulate what it means to enjoy driving. They also influence how people travel and even what vehicle they buy. Technology only takes away from those moments.
Incessant beeps that blur the line between safety and sensitivity add unwanted noise while a person may have to dive into menus to try to change the air conditioning. These things add distractions when the driver should focus on the road ahead. While the distraction can be dangerous, it also makes someone less present.
Driving, especially long distances, is one of the marquees of American leisure and travel. With a country so vast, driving is a premier way to experience it, but like phones, screens only try to take that away.
