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There was a recent story about a self-driving long haul trucking caravan across Europe touting the success of such. It was done in the spring and lots of high-

There was a recent story about a self-driving long haul trucking caravan across Europe touting the success of such. It was done in the spring and lots of high-fives around it...The route was in Sweden, Denmark, and Germany...aside from perpetual autobahn construction...each of those have very good roads and it was done in the spring. "Self driving cars" still can't distinguish all driving hazards. The recent Tesla fatality, many stories made it a point to point out the driver was watching a movie. So, let's move self driving cars to California roads. They will deal well with traffic in places like 880, etc. But, can they deal with poor road conditions, the overall shitty level of driver competence here, etc? I think that is many years off and not yet proven. Another area to consider - uptake in new cars. I just bought a 2016 Tacoma in the last year. These trucks are known for lasting decades. I don't commute. I don't see replacing it anytime soon, let alone, ever having a self driving car for taking me places in the back country/forrest roads/etc. It is hype and maybe it will happen for some fleet situations, but I don't see autonomous cars being the mainstay for private individuals in my lifetime.

intopieces 10y ago
Uptake in new cars will be a non-issue when Uber and Lyft make self-driving taxis. The movers in industries are never the end consumers, but the large corporations. Cities will replace HOV lanes with Autonomously Driven Vehicle lanes, and that will include the buses.
- jmspring 10y ago
  I've seen lots of stories about "cities" and their plans. In the bay area, Morgan Hill to Mill Valley, keeping things to 101, are part of the same suburban gridlock. Do I see that area changing by "autonomously driven vehicle lanes"? No. And you are an idiot if you think it will happen. Why? HOV lanes aren't only used by long distance commuters. You aren't going to get HOV/Autonomous lanes through SF. Sorry, After the 89 quake they tore down freeway infrastructure. 880 -> Richmond-San Rafael, yeah no. Please provide me with a valid scenario where I can get from any of the bay area communities a commute over 30 miles where an autonomous vehicle would work. This is the norm. If you assume anything about future plans, you lose. Hwy 85 was supposed to help south bay commutes, 2 months after opening, it was still faster to go 17 -> 280 -> Page Mill to get to Stanford from Santa Cruz. Oh yeah, that was still in the 90s. I have no idea where you live, but, at least in the bay area, maybe you need a commute history lesson.
  - jmspring 10y ago
    And as someone who lived near what is now Almaden and 85 before 85 went in (amd my parents were well aware of road plans, 85 was on the book for decades) the freeway turned upper middle class neighborhoods into problem areas when it went in. "Autonomous lanes" much like light rail or Bart lines, have a community effect beyond the "making it easier to move people" effect.

intopieces 10y ago

Uptake in new cars will be a non-issue when Uber and Lyft make self-driving taxis. The movers in industries are never the end consumers, but the large corporations. Cities will replace HOV lanes with Autonomously Driven Vehicle lanes, and that will include the buses.

jmspring 10y ago
I've seen lots of stories about "cities" and their plans. In the bay area, Morgan Hill to Mill Valley, keeping things to 101, are part of the same suburban gridlock. Do I see that area changing by "autonomously driven vehicle lanes"? No. And you are an idiot if you think it will happen. Why? HOV lanes aren't only used by long distance commuters. You aren't going to get HOV/Autonomous lanes through SF. Sorry, After the 89 quake they tore down freeway infrastructure. 880 -> Richmond-San Rafael, yeah no. Please provide me with a valid scenario where I can get from any of the bay area communities a commute over 30 miles where an autonomous vehicle would work. This is the norm. If you assume anything about future plans, you lose. Hwy 85 was supposed to help south bay commutes, 2 months after opening, it was still faster to go 17 -> 280 -> Page Mill to get to Stanford from Santa Cruz. Oh yeah, that was still in the 90s. I have no idea where you live, but, at least in the bay area, maybe you need a commute history lesson.
- jmspring 10y ago
  And as someone who lived near what is now Almaden and 85 before 85 went in (amd my parents were well aware of road plans, 85 was on the book for decades) the freeway turned upper middle class neighborhoods into problem areas when it went in. "Autonomous lanes" much like light rail or Bart lines, have a community effect beyond the "making it easier to move people" effect.