Driverless Cars? Study Before You Decide

fmdog44

fmdog44

Well-known Member
Location
Houston, Texas
LIstening to The Car Counselor Show last Saturday a person called in asking about how reliable the self-drivers were. The host sighted some stories about some of them. One driver of a Tesla was decapitated as he drove under an 18 wheeler because his self-driver saw only the air beneath the trailer. He pointer out self driving applies only to those roads that have been driven over and mapped. If their is any change to the road like repaving the technology will not work. Also, say you are on a narrow mountain road and an animal or person suddenly appears in front of you the car will either swerve one way killing the object or the other way killing you as you tumble down the mountain. Personally, I think it is stupid to rely on a computer that could result in me dying if it malfunctions. Note, 18 wheelers are being tested now as well. How does that make you feel going 75 mph with those beasts?
 

I wouldn't worry too much unless I was the poor guy in the Tesla.

Records indicate that there were 3,613,732 motor vehicle fatalities in the United States from 1899 to 2013.

Before automobiles, people used to be trampled by horses.

What does concern me are many of the new vehicles that have driver assist technology where man and machine compete for control of the vehicle.

 
I don't fancy driving among them at high speeds, though they
will probably arrive one day.

The shuttle cars/buses that are used at airports seem to be OK,
there is a train service in London that has no driver as all of the
Singapore underground, but they do have controllers in in a
bunker somewhere.

In the mainland of Europe they have tested 18 wheelers to join
in a convoy and be controlled by computers, lone trucks that have
no driver tests are all done in private, off the public roads.

Eventually all types of transport will be automatic I suppose.

Mike.
 

It will be safer when they take over, and someday they will........

They won't hit each other, [programmed not to] they will be pre-programmed for speed to suit where they are traveling , no need for traffic officers, no need for parking lots/garages. IMO personal ownership will become a thing of the past. Take out your phone/devise , press the app for a car.....and it arrives in no-time. Take ya anywhere . Why own? No purchase, no payments, no insurance , no tags, no need for a driveway/garage at home.

Not suggesting that this will be next week...next year...but IMO it will be.

The age of the Jetson's is coming...........:)
 
IF/When ALL vehicles are self driving, the number of auto accidents will probably be reduced....However, during the "transition" period, when humans and autonomous vehicles are competing for space on the roads, I suspect that driving will become even more hazardous.
 
I'm waiting for them. Yeah, there will be accidents due to faulty coding, sensors, scenarios not thought of and not programmed, etc. I expect that like airplanes, redundancy will be built in --- but of course, can still malfunction. But, to me, the future is in driverless. Humans make far more mistakes --- impaired, distracted, just plain bad driving habits.
Not sure how long it will take for mass marketing, but it's coming sooner or later. I'm all for it.
 
Who does one sue when an accident happens? Are you willing to pay the legal bill against a major auto maker? Also, what if any, indications do these programs give when there is trouble? Any or does the driver first plunge in to a concrete wall then decide something is not quite right?
 
fmdog44 said:
Who does one sue when an accident happens? Are you willing to pay the legal bill against a major auto maker? Also, what if any, indications do these programs give when there is trouble? Any or does the driver first plunge in to a concrete wall then decide something is not quite right?
Click to expand...

A lot of those legal questions will have to be answered before mass marketing. May become political. It's no different in other areas such as medical. Lots more machines that sometimes malfunction. As far as 'indications', it's all about testing, testing, testing. Even then, something will happen. But what's new? We have failed brakes, failed airbags, faulty wiring causing fires, exploding gas tanks, engines that stop running. Mechanical and electrical failure is always with us.
 
I cannot wait until autonomous cars are the norm. I'm hoping that happens within the next 5 years. I still have to drive to work every day and let me tell you, drivers are getting worse all the time. I don't know if it's because they don't know road rules or they just don't care, but people are driving so badly it's unsafe. People don't seem to have any judgement, any courtesy and seem to be very self centered in their driving decisions.

Like others, though, I'm wondering about the transition. Some people out there will never give up their driving, unfortunately.
 
Uptosnuff said:
I cannot wait until autonomous cars are the norm. I'm hoping that happens within the next 5 years. I still have to drive to work every day and let me tell you, drivers are getting worse all the time. I don't know if it's because they don't know road rules or they just don't care, but people are driving so badly it's unsafe. People don't seem to have any judgement, any courtesy and seem to be very self centered in their driving decisions.

Like others, though, I'm wondering about the transition. Some people out there will never give up their driving, unfortunately.
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Well, they'll have to when it is outlawed, & or the steering wheel is omitted.

I still think that it will become autonomous "pods" that we do not own, as i said earlier, they'll be owned by a service like Uber, press an app on the phone, a pod shows up, takes ya where ya wish......jmo.
 
Given my age and the fact that my car has only 24000 miles on it, it is likely that it will be my last car.

Will they make self driving hearses?
 
rgp said:
Well, they'll have to when it is outlawed, & or the steering wheel is omitted.

I still think that it will become autonomous "pods" that we do not own, as i said earlier, they'll be owned by a service like Uber, press an app on the phone, a pod shows up, takes ya where ya wish......jmo.
Click to expand...

I can see that happening in the cities, but I think there are situations where people will still want to own their own vehicles. When I retire, I plan to hook a trailer up to my car and drive all over down south during the wintertime. I can't see doing that by "renting" my car. I think it would be cost prohibitive. Also, what about people living in rural areas with a lot of distance to cover to get anywhere?

Autonomous cars will be very liberating for people. They will be real competition for the airlines. If I had a choice to hop in a car, not worry about driving, maybe sleep the whole way to my destination, or travel by air with all the security nightmares, I'd pick the car every time.
 
Uptosnuff said:
I can see that happening in the cities, but I think there are situations where people will still want to own their own vehicles. When I retire, I plan to hook a trailer up to my car and drive all over down south during the wintertime. I can't see doing that by "renting" my car. I think it would be cost prohibitive. Also, what about people living in rural areas with a lot of distance to cover to get anywhere?

Autonomous cars will be very liberating for people. They will be real competition for the airlines. If I had a choice to hop in a car, not worry about driving, maybe sleep the whole way to my destination, or travel by air with all the security nightmares, I'd pick the car every time.
Click to expand...



With the "green" movement, DUI laws becoming more strict, texting being so popular, etc. I can see [in the future] automobile ownership ending/being forbidden. Exhibition/museum items only.

Just like the switch from horse to auto, it will take time, and yes the rural folks will be the last group to comply/need to comply.

Once it starts, it will gain in favor/popularity, making it easier to spread............jmo

Just a note; this morning Ford announced an electric F-150........Never thought I'd ever see that!! and yet here it is. As i said earlier, ya cannot stop , or for that matter even impede the future.
 

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