4 ms·

Tangential to this bill, wonder if anyone has predictions on how driving a car yourself vs taking a robotaxi (e.g.,Waymo) will play out over time (assuming auto

Tangential to this bill, wonder if anyone has predictions on how driving a car yourself vs taking a robotaxi (e.g.,Waymo) will play out over time (assuming autonomy doesn't get derailed due to risks in the tech or crippling regulation). I ride Waymo a bit these days and it's still surprising when the car comes to a complete stop at stop signs. I'm actually delighted by it and I say that as a fan of driving (and, candidly, speeding when I do) though certainly not on traffic-choked roads and freeways. If I could vote tomorrow, though, and everyone would drive as "thoughtfully" as a Waymo, I'd vote for it. That said, I can't see any politician in a red state like Texas, or even in many blue states, telling folks they have to give up driving themselves. Is it a foregone conclusion that if the tech does in fact survive this break-in period, that governments will stop people from driving? Will it have to be a hybrid forever in the name of "freedom"? A lot of ink has been spilt about this already on HN and elsewhere, of course, but always interested in the HN crowd's current view on this.

alexey-salmin 2y ago
I do worry about mandatory self-driving cars: e.g. if the government declares a curfew they won't go anywhere. However I do agree that self-driving would reduce mortality a lot, the question is whether the price is too high. This is in fact an interesting dilemma, not the trolley problem.
- harmmonica 2y ago
  Good point. So maybe the answer is some sort of quid pro quo. You're forcing me to give up driving myself? I'm forcing you, the government (through voting; cue laughter from the cynical gallery), to restrict what you're able to do to self-driving cars (need a warrant to force-stop, no en-masse disabling, etc.). I say that with a US-centric viewpoint, of course, because there's zero chance countless countries around the world be sensitive to their citizens' objections (questionable in the US as well of course, but not out of the question).

alexey-salmin 2y ago

I do worry about mandatory self-driving cars: e.g. if the government declares a curfew they won't go anywhere. However I do agree that self-driving would reduce mortality a lot, the question is whether the price is too high. This is in fact an interesting dilemma, not the trolley problem.

harmmonica 2y ago
Good point. So maybe the answer is some sort of quid pro quo. You're forcing me to give up driving myself? I'm forcing you, the government (through voting; cue laughter from the cynical gallery), to restrict what you're able to do to self-driving cars (need a warrant to force-stop, no en-masse disabling, etc.). I say that with a US-centric viewpoint, of course, because there's zero chance countless countries around the world be sensitive to their citizens' objections (questionable in the US as well of course, but not out of the question).