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This. And in fact I think that may be the path forward - just update all the main roads to be self driving friendly, like a train network, and keep the smaller

This. And in fact I think that may be the path forward - just update all the main roads to be self driving friendly, like a train network, and keep the smaller roads as manual driving only.

hugh-avherald 5y ago
"just update"
runarberg 5y ago
So why “just update” the highways to operate like a train network, instead of just building a train network? What benefits will autonomous highways bring which normal traditional (or even automated) trains don’t? If you are suggesting we update all but minor streets, it is actually not that simple, since we have to think about pedestrian crossings, bike lanes, parked delivery vans, emergency vehicles etc. Accommodating dumb self driving cars will have to be at the cost of access for all other modes, and that will never happen outside of highways. And if we are going to be spending a bunch of money on intercity travel infrastructure, a well served train line is always a better choice.
- dvngnt_ 5y ago
  trains in some countries are okay. America is dicey.
- ShinTakuya 5y ago
  I love trains but building a train network is expensive, adding a few signs to restrict traffic would be a lot cheaper than laying hundreds of kms of rail.
asdff 5y ago
It really does seem like the self driving problem becomes so much easier when you remove variables. Something like an HOV lane would be perfect for self driving. You could put sensors under the road bed to stay in lane even without visual feedback. You could limit it to self driving vehicles pretty easily too compared to a surface street, where you have to account for probably an order of magnitude more variance in conditions.
seibelj 5y ago
And yet train crashes and derailments are something that happens fairly regularly, despite it being a tight closed-loop system with manual controllers and operators. Cars are not even close.
- lmm 5y ago
  > And yet train crashes and derailments are something that happens fairly regularly In the UK in any given year it's fairly common for the only fatal passenger train crashes to be collisions with motor vehicles on level crossings.

This. And in fact I think that may be the path forward - just update all the main roads to be self driving friendly, like a train network, and keep the smaller roads as manual driving only.

hugh-avherald 5y ago

"just update"

runarberg 5y ago

So why “just update” the highways to operate like a train network, instead of just building a train network? What benefits will autonomous highways bring which normal traditional (or even automated) trains don’t? If you are suggesting we update all but minor streets, it is actually not that simple, since we have to think about pedestrian crossings, bike lanes, parked delivery vans, emergency vehicles etc. Accommodating dumb self driving cars will have to be at the cost of access for all other modes, and that will never happen outside of highways. And if we are going to be spending a bunch of money on intercity travel infrastructure, a well served train line is always a better choice.

dvngnt_ 5y ago
trains in some countries are okay. America is dicey.
ShinTakuya 5y ago
I love trains but building a train network is expensive, adding a few signs to restrict traffic would be a lot cheaper than laying hundreds of kms of rail.

asdff 5y ago

It really does seem like the self driving problem becomes so much easier when you remove variables. Something like an HOV lane would be perfect for self driving. You could put sensors under the road bed to stay in lane even without visual feedback. You could limit it to self driving vehicles pretty easily too compared to a surface street, where you have to account for probably an order of magnitude more variance in conditions.

seibelj 5y ago

And yet train crashes and derailments are something that happens fairly regularly, despite it being a tight closed-loop system with manual controllers and operators. Cars are not even close.

lmm 5y ago
> And yet train crashes and derailments are something that happens fairly regularly In the UK in any given year it's fairly common for the only fatal passenger train crashes to be collisions with motor vehicles on level crossings.