6 ms·

My pet theory is that people simply don't really want self-driving cars. Maybe we just like driving ourselves, even if by some definition it is "irrational"?

by JR1427 3y ago

peepee1982 3y ago
Sure. I don't think it's irrational, either. But from time to time I really wish I could just take a nap and not have to pay attention on long trips.
- JR1427 3y ago
  Yes, I think from time to time that would be nice. I don't have to drive long distances much, and if I do, it's usually for pleasure, not work, so I'm usually happy to be driving. For short distances I think I'd find it frustrating to not be the one driving. I get bored and fidgety as a passenger. (I like riding trains, though. I think being able to walk around makes me feel more comfortable about not being in control, as at least I can stand up when I want.)
acdha 3y ago
I think it’s irrational but from a different perspective: urban and suburban driving sucks - you’re paying a lot of money for a metal box you use to sit in traffic unable to do anything else, and do that for a fair fraction of your free time every day. Due to the 20th century decision to subsidize car travel at the expense of everything else, most people in at least North America don’t have a great alternative. That means there’s a HUGE market for the dream of having your own personal chauffeur because that means getting a non-trivial chunk of their waking hours back to play games, watch video, read, catch up on work, use social media, etc. I remember one of the researchers at Google mentioning testing a prototype on the trip out to Tahoe because not being awake meant you could do a ski trip over a normal two day weekend. That also means that a lot of people really want to be selling this product: millions of customers and they’re already used to paying thousands of dollars a year and taking out loans to get cool toys. That’s really going to skew judgement towards saying you’ll have it soon, even if you aren’t willing to cross the line into full Musk-level fraud.
- nradov 3y ago
  There are already thousands of people who do ski trips from the SF Bay Area to Lake Tahoe over a normal two day weekend. It's kind of a grind due to heavy traffic and mountain road conditions but generally not too bad. And if you don't want to drive yourself then there are already scheduled charter buses that run every weekend.
  - acdha 3y ago
    The “kind of a grind” was the point: he valued being able to have a nice dinner, leave in the evening, and sleeping in the car to having to stressfully watch traffic. I think there are a LOT of people who’d pay for that.
    - eep_social 3y ago
      > have a nice dinner, leave in the evening, and sleeping Ah, like a train!
      - acdha 3y ago
        Yes. A lot of this dream is wanting that convenience without having to share space with strangers.
      - nradov 3y ago
        SF Bay Area residents can take an Amtrak train from Emeryville to Truckee. But the times aren't convenient for weekend ski trips, and it's a hassle to get from the train station to any ski resort. Only a real masochist would attempt that with children plus luggage. The ski buses are going to be a better option for most people who don't want to drive because they go direct to the resorts. https://shop.sportsbasement.com/collections/sports-basement-outdoors-ski-bus https://shop.sportsbasement.com/collections/sports-basement-...
nradov 3y ago
I don't particularly like driving myself and I really want a level 4+ autonomous car but like most consumers my wants are tempered by my limited budget. If I could get real self-driving as an option for about $3000 per year (amortized purchase price plus annual subscription) then I would take it, but if it's $10000 per year then forget it. For most people, driving just isn't a huge burden and they're already financially stretched just paying for regular cars that don't have a bunch of expensive sensors.
illiac786 3y ago
I would argue it's like home office before the pandemic: they just don't know they want it, but once it will be there — oh they'll know.

My pet theory is that people simply don't really want self-driving cars. Maybe we just like driving ourselves, even if by some definition it is "irrational"?

by JR1427 3y ago

My pet theory is that people simply don't really want self-driving cars. Maybe we just like driving ourselves, even if by some definition it is "irrational"?

peepee1982 3y ago

Sure. I don't think it's irrational, either. But from time to time I really wish I could just take a nap and not have to pay attention on long trips.

JR1427 3y ago
Yes, I think from time to time that would be nice. I don't have to drive long distances much, and if I do, it's usually for pleasure, not work, so I'm usually happy to be driving. For short distances I think I'd find it frustrating to not be the one driving. I get bored and fidgety as a passenger. (I like riding trains, though. I think being able to walk around makes me feel more comfortable about not being in control, as at least I can stand up when I want.)

acdha 3y ago

I think it’s irrational but from a different perspective: urban and suburban driving sucks - you’re paying a lot of money for a metal box you use to sit in traffic unable to do anything else, and do that for a fair fraction of your free time every day. Due to the 20th century decision to subsidize car travel at the expense of everything else, most people in at least North America don’t have a great alternative. That means there’s a HUGE market for the dream of having your own personal chauffeur because that means getting a non-trivial chunk of their waking hours back to play games, watch video, read, catch up on work, use social media, etc. I remember one of the researchers at Google mentioning testing a prototype on the trip out to Tahoe because not being awake meant you could do a ski trip over a normal two day weekend. That also means that a lot of people really want to be selling this product: millions of customers and they’re already used to paying thousands of dollars a year and taking out loans to get cool toys. That’s really going to skew judgement towards saying you’ll have it soon, even if you aren’t willing to cross the line into full Musk-level fraud.

nradov 3y ago
There are already thousands of people who do ski trips from the SF Bay Area to Lake Tahoe over a normal two day weekend. It's kind of a grind due to heavy traffic and mountain road conditions but generally not too bad. And if you don't want to drive yourself then there are already scheduled charter buses that run every weekend.
- acdha 3y ago
  The “kind of a grind” was the point: he valued being able to have a nice dinner, leave in the evening, and sleeping in the car to having to stressfully watch traffic. I think there are a LOT of people who’d pay for that.
  - eep_social 3y ago
    > have a nice dinner, leave in the evening, and sleeping Ah, like a train!
    - acdha 3y ago
      Yes. A lot of this dream is wanting that convenience without having to share space with strangers.
    - nradov 3y ago
      SF Bay Area residents can take an Amtrak train from Emeryville to Truckee. But the times aren't convenient for weekend ski trips, and it's a hassle to get from the train station to any ski resort. Only a real masochist would attempt that with children plus luggage. The ski buses are going to be a better option for most people who don't want to drive because they go direct to the resorts. https://shop.sportsbasement.com/collections/sports-basement-outdoors-ski-bus https://shop.sportsbasement.com/collections/sports-basement-...

nradov 3y ago

I don't particularly like driving myself and I really want a level 4+ autonomous car but like most consumers my wants are tempered by my limited budget. If I could get real self-driving as an option for about $3000 per year (amortized purchase price plus annual subscription) then I would take it, but if it's $10000 per year then forget it. For most people, driving just isn't a huge burden and they're already financially stretched just paying for regular cars that don't have a bunch of expensive sensors.

illiac786 3y ago

I would argue it's like home office before the pandemic: they just don't know they want it, but once it will be there — oh they'll know.