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I anticipate a lot of luddite rage and probably a good number of accidents (and maybe even a few deaths), but we're not going to get to The Future by just wishi
by jarin 15y ago
I anticipate a lot of luddite rage and probably a good number of accidents (and maybe even a few deaths), but we're not going to get to The Future by just wishing it so.
- jpr 15y agoWhat makes you think machines would be even deadlier drivers than humans?
- 3dFlatLander 15y agoLike airplanes, they would be safer than driving. But, each incident will receive so much more coverage that the statistical safety will be largely ignored by the terrified public.
- rimantas 15y agoAirplanes still have pilots. I guess busses are safer than cars too.
- Natsu 15y agoI read that comment as saying that people would get upset about the driverless cars and there would be bad PR for every accident, not that the driverless cars would actually be less safe. They won't be perfect, and every single failure will place the blame on the manufacturer, similar to the difference between public perception of airplane safety vs. car safety. Most people feel safer in cars, because they're in control. But people are safer in airplanes. Honestly, I predict that people will hate the way driverless cars drive, as well. For many reasons, including liability, such cars will have to drive in a nicer (more defensive) way than most people do. A driverless car won't tailgate and so it let people in, even if they're "cheating" in heavy traffic. Some people will absolutely hate that, even if it helps traffic flow better.
- snprbob86 15y agoHopefully, people will be too busy surfing the web to notice that their cars are politely improving traffic flow.
- paganel 15y ago> Hopefully, people will be too busy surfing the web to notice that their cars are politely improving traffic flow. I actually did that while traveling to work this very morning :) No need to dive into the future for that. It's called public transportation.
- nkassis 15y agoI drove to work today because my wife ankle was sore. I have a book I've been trying to finish and the 30 minute drive sorta annoyed me. I could have been so much more productive during that time. I also drive from Canada to Florida multiple times a year. 24 hours wasted but it's better than flying, more freedom to stop and relax, better food and less stress overall and more space to carry stuff. With these cars I'd be in heaven (not literally).
- dpatru 15y agoThe people complaining will be those who drive their own cars and are paying attention to how the computers drive.
- noodle 15y agoi don't think its about them being deadlier. i mean, just look at the toyota "runaway" car issue. all it takes is 1 car out of millions to cast doubt on the whole concept, or one person to do something stupid and blame it on the car to cause a PR firestorm.
- killerswan 15y agoHuman drivers kill ~260,000 children a year. The bar for robots is low.
- waterlesscloud 15y agoThat sounds like an awfully high number. Is there a source for it?
- xyzzyz 15y agoIt is not very high if you consider that people drive cars everywhere, not only in the US. The fatality rate in the US is around 30k-40k every year[1]. [1] - http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/People/PeopleAllVictims.aspx http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/People/PeopleAllVictims.aspx
- guruz 15y agoI wonder if making robots drive would bring the traffic death rate down to the one of other industrialized countries. http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=deaths+in+traffic+per+capita+USA+vs+Germany+vs+EU+vs+Canada http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=deaths+in+traffic+per+c...
- VMG 15y agoWhy is the rate so much higher in the US?
- waterlesscloud 15y agoFirst thought would be to graph it against miles driven per person per year.
- killerswan 15y agoYes: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7776127.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7776127.stm
- piyush_ranjan 15y agoand why is self driving car the future ?