4 ms·

Escalators have big red “Emergency Stop” buttons anyone can press when things go wrong. Why not one for autonomous vehicles, too?

epicureanideal 4y ago
Carjackings and other crimes where people could press the button in a bad part of town and pull the riders out.
- mmcconnell1618 4y ago
  Or just jump in front of the car which is supposed to stop and then your companions handle carjacking the immobilized vehicle. There are many ways to normally stop or trick an autonomous vehicle without needing a big red button to stop it. Spike strips are used by police to stop human driven vehicles all the time.
  - defen 4y ago
    What about if someone triggers it when you're traveling 75 mph on the highway?
    - rootusrootus 4y ago
      I.e. what if someone pulls in front of you on the highway and then stands on the brakes?
- goodpoint 4y ago
  Do you have a bulletproof car that can effectively protect the driver? Or are you just imagining Mad Max?
defen 4y ago
Because it would take about 5 minutes for people to figure out how to use that for nefarious purposes.
drdaeman 4y ago
Passenger safety concerns? If anyone would be able to stop an autonomous vehicle, it may be not always in the passenger's best interest. Could be OK if the passenger has an override, though - if they decide to tell the car to not comply with a legitimate stop request, it should be treated as if they'd be driving themselves and refused to stop. And, obviously, emergency stop should initiate stopping, but the vehicle should do so only when it's safe. It's not an escalator that's safe to halt immediately and at any moment. For an completely unmanned vehicle (driving to pick up or to recharge/park for the night) - probably no big deal.
- lalopalota 4y ago
  Even while unmanned it could be exploited. A robo-taxi's competitor could hit the emergency stop on any vehicles they see driving empty.
  - bernawil 4y ago
    The point is that would be illegal and prosecuted. A competitor could also shoot them with guns but we don't worry about that, don't we?
- goodpoint 4y ago
  > it may be not always in the passenger's best interest What is a realistic scenario here? Unless you are in a tank in a warzone... How is a traditional, non-self driving car protecting you from someone pointing a gun at you? Do you have bullet-proof glass and bodywork?
  - ctoth 4y ago
    Here[0] is a realistic scenario from last week near me. Just checked. No tanks involved. You can decide for yourself if it is a warzone. Note: OP edited the post after my response. Would be good if HN indicated this. [0]: Cherry Creek carjacking prompts other victims to come forward https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/cherry-creek-carjacking-prompts-other-victims-come-forward/ https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/cherry-creek-carjackin...
numpad0 4y ago
Trains too. There are abusers but not many.

epicureanideal 4y ago

Carjackings and other crimes where people could press the button in a bad part of town and pull the riders out.

mmcconnell1618 4y ago
Or just jump in front of the car which is supposed to stop and then your companions handle carjacking the immobilized vehicle. There are many ways to normally stop or trick an autonomous vehicle without needing a big red button to stop it. Spike strips are used by police to stop human driven vehicles all the time.
- defen 4y ago
  What about if someone triggers it when you're traveling 75 mph on the highway?
  - rootusrootus 4y ago
    I.e. what if someone pulls in front of you on the highway and then stands on the brakes?
goodpoint 4y ago
Do you have a bulletproof car that can effectively protect the driver? Or are you just imagining Mad Max?

defen 4y ago

Because it would take about 5 minutes for people to figure out how to use that for nefarious purposes.

drdaeman 4y ago

Passenger safety concerns? If anyone would be able to stop an autonomous vehicle, it may be not always in the passenger's best interest. Could be OK if the passenger has an override, though - if they decide to tell the car to not comply with a legitimate stop request, it should be treated as if they'd be driving themselves and refused to stop. And, obviously, emergency stop should initiate stopping, but the vehicle should do so only when it's safe. It's not an escalator that's safe to halt immediately and at any moment. For an completely unmanned vehicle (driving to pick up or to recharge/park for the night) - probably no big deal.

lalopalota 4y ago
Even while unmanned it could be exploited. A robo-taxi's competitor could hit the emergency stop on any vehicles they see driving empty.
- bernawil 4y ago
  The point is that would be illegal and prosecuted. A competitor could also shoot them with guns but we don't worry about that, don't we?
goodpoint 4y ago
> it may be not always in the passenger's best interest What is a realistic scenario here? Unless you are in a tank in a warzone... How is a traditional, non-self driving car protecting you from someone pointing a gun at you? Do you have bullet-proof glass and bodywork?
- ctoth 4y ago
  Here[0] is a realistic scenario from last week near me. Just checked. No tanks involved. You can decide for yourself if it is a warzone. Note: OP edited the post after my response. Would be good if HN indicated this. [0]: Cherry Creek carjacking prompts other victims to come forward https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/cherry-creek-carjacking-prompts-other-victims-come-forward/ https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/cherry-creek-carjackin...

numpad0 4y ago

Trains too. There are abusers but not many.