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I just realized the other day that winter weather will most likely mean that self-driving cars will more dangerous than conventional cars in much of the world f

I just realized the other day that winter weather will most likely mean that self-driving cars will more dangerous than conventional cars in much of the world for the foreseeable future, until they can be made fully autonomous in even the most difficult weather conditions. Winter driving can be some of the most difficult and dangerous conditions to drive in for a human. It's already bad enough after the first big snow when experienced fair-weather drivers have to re-acquaint themselves with winter conditions, but if they're driving skills atrophy in good weather due to self-driving car use, it will be even worse.

stcredzero 8y ago
if they're driving skills atrophy in good weather due to self-driving car use, it will be even worse. I remember driving in New Hampshire in the 80's as an undergraduate, thinking to myself, "They drive like it's winter all year!" If people only drove when it was winter, perhaps they'd drive like I drive now in middle age: to minimize the chance of collision. (As opposed to how I drove like a butthead in my 20's.) No assuming the turn signal is true. No assuming oncoming traffic will brake for you when you merge. (Unless you simply have no choice.) No merging turns unless you have first actually seen the oncoming traffic. On the whole, US drivers are too aggressive, and make too many assumptions. If people could model the behavior of autonomous vehicles, maybe they'd drive more rationally. (I'm Asian, and many would call my driving "Asian driving." I just don't think it's the smart or rational tradeoff to risk any more than you have to in the way of car damage, injury, or death just to get someplace a few minutes faster. Really, that strikes me as just plain stupid.)
- JoeAltmaier 8y ago
  In Iowa I like to say "Every summer Iowans quit believing in winter, and it takes them completely by surprise." The first day or two of driving in snow are a huge surge in accidents. So no, its not auto-driving cars that make winter-driving skills atrophy. Its summer that does that.
  - stcredzero 8y ago
    When it rains, it can rain a lot in Houston, but it still seems to take a few drivers there by surprise every time the heavy rain comes back.
  - CharlesColeman 8y ago
    > So no, its not auto-driving cars that make winter-driving skills atrophy. Its summer that does that. My point was that summer already makes winter driving skills atrophy, but self-driving cars will make general driving skills atrophy at the same time.
- ccvannorman 8y ago
  20 year old me: "Good thing I'm an invincible F1 Driver because I am L-A-T-E!" 36 year old me: "Wow, look at all these jackbutts.. driving is stressful. Good thing I'm not in a hurry."
  - justtopost 8y ago
    Honestly its usually prepared (snow tires, good alignment) vs unprepared ('all-season' or worse, eco tires, unsure of dynamics). The unprepared people need to just stay home or call an uber for the sake of everyone else.
- SpikeDad 8y ago
  I hate so to resort to stereotypes but I live in a big college town with many asian drivers a number of which I assume are driving in the US for the first time. They are decidedly not of the stereotype that you are claiming for asian drivers - careful and slow. I stay far away from them if possible. They don't have any idea about driving in a safe manner. But like I said stereotypes fail but I had to comment on yours.
  - stcredzero 8y ago
    I had a coworker from an entirely different part of Asia. I remember riding with him driving in Ohio and Indiana, no other cars visible to the horizon except for the one right in front of us, thinking, "There are no other cars for miles around. Why are you so very-very-very-close to the car in front!?" I guess some people would say I drive like an old person in Florida, or like someone from Ballard in Washington.
SpikeDad 8y ago
I was recently driving on the highway in a bad snow storm and the wet snow occluded my radar sensor and I got a warning that the adaptive cruise control was unavailable. Then my lane keeping assist cameras were blocked by snow as were the lane markers and that automation failed as well. What exactly will autonomous vehicles use to guide them in bad snow storms?
- EliRivers 8y ago
  I suspect they just won't go. If you want to travel in bad snow storms, you do it with a manual vehicle.

stcredzero 8y ago

if they're driving skills atrophy in good weather due to self-driving car use, it will be even worse. I remember driving in New Hampshire in the 80's as an undergraduate, thinking to myself, "They drive like it's winter all year!" If people only drove when it was winter, perhaps they'd drive like I drive now in middle age: to minimize the chance of collision. (As opposed to how I drove like a butthead in my 20's.) No assuming the turn signal is true. No assuming oncoming traffic will brake for you when you merge. (Unless you simply have no choice.) No merging turns unless you have first actually seen the oncoming traffic. On the whole, US drivers are too aggressive, and make too many assumptions. If people could model the behavior of autonomous vehicles, maybe they'd drive more rationally. (I'm Asian, and many would call my driving "Asian driving." I just don't think it's the smart or rational tradeoff to risk any more than you have to in the way of car damage, injury, or death just to get someplace a few minutes faster. Really, that strikes me as just plain stupid.)

JoeAltmaier 8y ago
In Iowa I like to say "Every summer Iowans quit believing in winter, and it takes them completely by surprise." The first day or two of driving in snow are a huge surge in accidents. So no, its not auto-driving cars that make winter-driving skills atrophy. Its summer that does that.
- stcredzero 8y ago
  When it rains, it can rain a lot in Houston, but it still seems to take a few drivers there by surprise every time the heavy rain comes back.
- CharlesColeman 8y ago
  > So no, its not auto-driving cars that make winter-driving skills atrophy. Its summer that does that. My point was that summer already makes winter driving skills atrophy, but self-driving cars will make general driving skills atrophy at the same time.
ccvannorman 8y ago
20 year old me: "Good thing I'm an invincible F1 Driver because I am L-A-T-E!" 36 year old me: "Wow, look at all these jackbutts.. driving is stressful. Good thing I'm not in a hurry."
- justtopost 8y ago
  Honestly its usually prepared (snow tires, good alignment) vs unprepared ('all-season' or worse, eco tires, unsure of dynamics). The unprepared people need to just stay home or call an uber for the sake of everyone else.
SpikeDad 8y ago
I hate so to resort to stereotypes but I live in a big college town with many asian drivers a number of which I assume are driving in the US for the first time. They are decidedly not of the stereotype that you are claiming for asian drivers - careful and slow. I stay far away from them if possible. They don't have any idea about driving in a safe manner. But like I said stereotypes fail but I had to comment on yours.
- stcredzero 8y ago
  I had a coworker from an entirely different part of Asia. I remember riding with him driving in Ohio and Indiana, no other cars visible to the horizon except for the one right in front of us, thinking, "There are no other cars for miles around. Why are you so very-very-very-close to the car in front!?" I guess some people would say I drive like an old person in Florida, or like someone from Ballard in Washington.

SpikeDad 8y ago

I was recently driving on the highway in a bad snow storm and the wet snow occluded my radar sensor and I got a warning that the adaptive cruise control was unavailable. Then my lane keeping assist cameras were blocked by snow as were the lane markers and that automation failed as well. What exactly will autonomous vehicles use to guide them in bad snow storms?

EliRivers 8y ago
I suspect they just won't go. If you want to travel in bad snow storms, you do it with a manual vehicle.