[Don_S]

I have not seen a thread on this topic.  I am surprised.

According to a recent AAA study:

"More than 80 percent of baby boomers surveyed were afraid to ride in an autonomous vehicle; 69 percent of younger people felt that way. Similarly, 81 percent of female respondents expressed concerns with driverless vehicles compared to 67 percent of men."

Some designs do not have any method for drivers to take over control of the car.  No steering wheel etc.  My recent episode with Google Maps says NO WAY!!! It took me at least 1/4 of a mile from my destination which was in an urban/commercial area, not the boonies.

In the future, I can hear the friendly voice telling me "You have arrived at your destination.  Please exit the vehicle."
Me:  I am sorry.  You must be mistaken.  This is not the correct location.
Less Friendly Voice:  I am sorry sir.  Google Maps does not make mistakes.
Me-getting frustrated: This is not the correct address.
Very unfriendly voice:  Get your ass out of the car NOW!
Me: Yes dear.

Your thoughts?

[aldcoll]

I personally like to drive.  And for years (58) I have been able to navigate without a map or a tool and actually find it fun and interesting.  I might add that it isn't above me to stop and ask directions, as long as you pick the right place to ask this has lead to some great experience's.

With my last car purchase I have to change dealers as the first would only show me a car with a fob.  And since I hike in the mountions and have lost things what if I lost that fob?  Well no Problem for some extra bucks we will send you 10 a year.  But what if I am at some trail head and no cell phone reception and I have to wait for the FedEx truck to show up 3 days later????  I don't think so.   Can't hide a fob on a car other wise it would never lock.  Yes if it was in a foil case yada yada.

I don't like the electric steering I ended up with but I have sever back issues and this model was comfortable and required a key.

Remember the days when you could adjust the heater in the car with out taking your eye's off the road?  Two levers and a fan switch.

Now I have to push that button and then that button 5 times and turn that dial and check the screen oops my eyes are off the road.

[sts9fan]

Old generations never fully accept progress and always look for the faults not the benefits.

[JLM]

Old generations never fully accept progress and always look for the faults not the benefits.

That's only a generalization.


Driverless can be more efficient (automatically avoiding traffic jams, safely bunching up tighter in heavy traffic) and no distracted driving.  Baby boomers are near the end of their car buying careers.  And I have no problem buying cheaper cars without tons of gizmos. 

Of course there will be bugs to work out and until then there will be steering wheels.

[*Scotty*]

It doesn't hurt to look at the unintended consequences of any decision.
Two things to consider here, failure is not an option and hacking. Who doesn't think one or both of these won't occur. Repeatedly. This "progress" has created yet more vulnerabilities that can be exploited to our detriment.
Who volunteers to be first to be FUBARed
It would be nice to have the right to opt out, but the chances are excellent that should you choose to exercise your freedom to not participate, you will be penalized by your insurance company for starters and then it will go downhill from there.
Scotty
 

[rockadanny]

Thanks, but no. Not for me. I am all for automated warnings, assisted control, and suggested actions, but I'd never fully give up the controls to software. I've been in the software biz almost 40 years. Worked some time for Ford at their Powertrain Operations Engineering Dept. in and around the engine module, transmission, throttle, etc. I would never trust anyone to produce error free code to fully control my steering wheel, brakes, or throttle, let alone rely on the hard parts (circuitry, controllers, etc.) either. My long term experience knows: SOFTWARE = ERRORS, and PARTS FAIL.

[SteveRB]

The gains in efficiency and safety over 'manual drive' are about 1,000,000 : 1.
Sure software isn't perfect, but it can manage a ton more input variations than people can.

I could see a compromise being specific regions, neighbourhoods, highways, routes where an 'auto-drive' function takes over.

But there's no way this will happen in North America anytime soon...

[*Scotty*]

All it would take to make driverless cars mandatory would be for the insurance industry to be convinced that it would save them money. It's a short step from there to a federal law requiring all cars to be automated.
There would be a phase in period, after which all manually operated cars would no longer be allowed on the road. Rural areas with a population density below X might get an exemption or an extended transition period.
 I think the hand writing is on the wall.
Scotty

[randytsuch]

With an aging population, driverless may be safer than an 80 year old driver 

[sts9fan]

That's only a generalization.


Driverless can be more efficient (automatically avoiding traffic jams, safely bunching up tighter in heavy traffic) and no distracted driving.  Baby boomers are near the end of their car buying careers.  And I have no problem buying cheaper cars without tons of gizmos. 

Of course there will be bugs to work out and until then there will be steering wheels.

It definitely is. It was hard not to post when the first two where "those Google maps always screw up so driverless cars will be bad". "I've been driving my whole life so that's what's good".

[aldcoll]

It definitely is. It was hard not to post when the first two where "those Google maps always screw up so driverless cars will be bad". "I've been driving my whole life so that's what's good".

Since I was poster # 2 I must be so old I can't find where I posted anything about Google???

I love and embrace technology but I will not give my life over to it.  A case in point.  A small Scandinavian Country has quit using cash and Debit.  All transactions requiring a payment go through two Card Company's.  The ATM's have been removed.   And what happens when the lights go out..

I love Google and it has it's place.  I can set the Tach and Dwell  I can read road signs and understand what the numbers mean so I can even guess the direction of travel.   
I know what a mile marker is  and can make computational adjustment to my arrival time.

Google doesn't know what a mile marker is and is next to impossible to get a exit number from their map but that dammed voice in the box just might mention it.

[JEaton]

The experiments they're doing now are pretty encouraging, but widespread use for transportation is still many years away. So it's somewhat meaningless how people feel about self-driving vehicles at this point in time. See how they feel in 20 or 30 years.

It's gonna be a while before they let them loose at 60+ MPH and without any need for supervision and intervention from a passenger. Makes almost no sense if the passenger needs to be watching and ready to intervene, as one of the main benefits of self-driving cars will be to alleviate the stress of driving in rush hour traffic and to allow you to do something a little more productive with your commuting time.

[JLM]

Driverless will change our perception of what a car is.  It will become just a tool, a means of transport, little more.  The romance of commanding a sleek hot-rod will be gone.  Pleasure drives or exploring new routes will be a thing of the past.  A part of our western culture will be gone. 

Don't be fooled, we are desperately dependent on technology for our everyday lives now in many, many ways. 


Yeah, I enjoy finding my own way sometimes (I navigated on our family vacation across the country at age 11).  I delivered goods across a 100 mile by 200 mile area one college summer, to rural addresses in 1976 without maps.  Don't know how the technology will work in snow storms with drifts across the road or how those inexperienced drivers will handle it when the auto-pilot gives back control.  But humans seem to be very adaptable.

[sts9fan]

Since I was poster # 2 I must be so old I can't find where I posted anything about Google???

I love and embrace technology but I will not give my life over to it.  A case in point.  A small Scandinavian Country has quit using cash and Debit.  All transactions requiring a payment go through two Card Company's.  The ATM's have been removed.   And what happens when the lights go out..

I love Google and it has it's place.  I can set the Tach and Dwell  I can read road signs and understand what the numbers mean so I can even guess the direction of travel.   
I know what a mile marker is  and can make computational adjustment to my arrival time.

Google doesn't know what a mile marker is and is next to impossible to get a exit number from their map but that dammed voice in the box just might mention it.

Na.  You were "I have been driving my whole life so this is bad"
Google does not need to know a mile marker.  It directly knows where you are...

[aldcoll]

No I was people should accept responsibility and be able to deal with situations way beyond driving.  Tech is good.  It will take you when to change a diaper but it won't do it for you.  The anti swerve and traction control are great but the common sense to stay off the road is superior.  Even when the officials tweet and post on face place that you should stay home everyone runs out because their app didn't say to keep a few cans of beans in the cupboard.

Google is great but it will never make up for the common sense that seems to be being bred out of the last few generations.

I would be glad to slip in the car train and slide across a few states.  But when it doesn't work I will be more then capable of dealing with it.

And when you are broken down on the side of the road and this little sign on the side of the road allows folks to find you because you are pinging off one tower will allow AAA and to find you.

And yes I have driven for a while.  I have done some 300k miles at 105,000 pounds and I am still amazed at what people do behind the wheel.

That car is a death machine in the wrong hands.  Or it is the best set of wheels for a weekend cruse.

And Google doesn't put that smile on my face as I cruise past the spring or fall colors.

And let me add.  Tech has allowed me to quit making all the manual entries in the Federal mandated log books.  I just start the truck and press a button and Big Brother knows where I am ( +/- 30 feet 24/7) and what I am doing.  Am I speeding of impeding traffic.  And the boss knows the water temp oil temp and pressure and lots of interesting things going on with the truck. 
They don't know what I am listening to or how loud.

[SteveRB]

I think the tech will be used quite successfully in long haul transportation: moving goods. It can treat the highways like a railroad. Rigs would be able to cruise 6-7 deep and save huge amounts of fuel.

...the whole personal freedom argument is selfish, but I totally agree. Are we (North Americans) born with the 'right' to drive a car...?

[tube-vds]

i would NEVER step in a car controlled by google.

[JLM]

Planes, ships, and trains already have forms of auto-pilot. 

I can foresee driverless lanes (like car-pool/hybrid lanes now) on longer stretches of multi-lane roads.

[Philistine]

I think the tech will be used quite successfully in long haul transportation: moving goods. It can treat the highways like a railroad. Rigs would be able to cruise 6-7 deep and save huge amounts of fuel.

...the whole personal freedom argument is selfish, but I totally agree. Are we (North Americans) born with the 'right' to drive a car...?

I met a couple of people from the trucking industry at a conference last year, they mentioned that the technology and trials for long haul driverless trucks was at an advanced stage.  I had a Tesla for a couple of days and used the 'Autopilot' feature, it self drives but you have to keep your hands on the wheel - it worked very well, so the technology is ready and waiting for legislation and public acceptance to catch up.   

[steve in jersey]

Saw the title to this thread & thought "Hmmm.... This sounds like another Obama idea !"

(I never realized that someone who was so articulate could seemingly have so many thought deficient ideas)