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> For short distances in cities, we have buses, trams, bikes Although I agree, as an urban dweller, I am quite anticipating a possible future with the total p
by helen___keller 4y ago
> For short distances in cities, we have buses, trams, bikes
Although I agree, as an urban dweller, I am quite anticipating a possible future with the total proliferation of self driving cars. If self driving cars reach a large majority of the road, I can anticipate local and state governments outlawing the manually-driven kind on urban streets. I personally would really like this, because human drivers are an absolute nuisance to urban life in many ways.
You can't use laws to make humans drive 25 on that road where everyone routinely goes 40. It just doesn't work, and the people whose houses are on that road suffer the noise and danger that results. You can, however, use laws to make algorithms respect the speed limit, because big companies will otherwise face big fines. That's why I want to see self driving cars.
- jokteur 4y agoYou can also make the road narrower and put obstacles on the road to force to reduce the speed: it is very effective, and very cheap to install with little technology. Here is a typical example of narrow street with obstacles in Switzerland: https://www.google.com/maps/@46.8111357,7.1507033,3a,75y,167.48h,79.65t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1schP4kqDaDy3prbZf3tbrkg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 https://www.google.com/maps/@46.8111357,7.1507033,3a,75y,167....
- helen___keller 4y agoCorrect, but that takes active effort on a road by road basis, which becomes a political problem on a road by road basis. In a world where all cars are automated, establishing speed limits is presumably something you do once and auto manufacturers will be forced to comply. Similarly, issues with cycling safety and pedestrian safety are instantly mitigated without complex study groups to examine why this or that particular intersection has seen three cycling fatalities. All of this is assuming the creation of currently-mythical technology, or course