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> Once all the meatspace human drivers are off the grid, you can remove traffic lights. You will always have humans on roads, whether they are pedestrians or c
by mnw21cam 12y ago
> Once all the meatspace human drivers are off the grid, you can remove traffic lights.
You will always have humans on roads, whether they are pedestrians or cyclists. Not everyone is going to want to drive everywhere - if nothing else than for cost and exercise reasons.
You can't turn roads into people-free death traps. In the UK, the law is very clear that cyclist are permitted to cycle on a road (that isn't a motorway), even if there is a parallel cycle path. However, many people take the view that a cyclist "should not" be on a dangerous road, and that if an accident occurs then it is the cyclist's fault for being in the wrong place. There is quite strong pressure from cycling groups to keep roads safe, rather than banning cyclists from them.
- zimbatm 12y agoIf the cars can sense you and stop in time you don't need to remove the cyclists and pedestrians from the road. Having no misbehaving driver would arguably be safer for the cyclists (until a firmware update crushes them all).
- JoeAltmaier 12y agoLike it. But automatic cars is about more than safety - its about getting people places quickly. Cyclists and pedestrians on the road would drive traffic speeds down to nil, especially if safety trumps all.
- dwiel 12y agoThe car may be programmed to adhere to strict safety laws, but some necessary maneuvers will not be possible due to physical constraints and people can still get hurt.
- mnw21cam 12y agoThat works if there is only one cyclist or pedestrian on the road. Traffic lights are required when there are multiple, so they don't bump into each other, regardless of whether the self-driven cars can avoid them.
- jessaustin 12y agoTraffic lights aren't even necessary for autos, if all drivers are minimally aware of their surroundings. (Admittedly that situation is uncommon.) It would be extreme authoritarian overkill to use them in a bicycle-only situation. Appropriately-placed "yield" signs are quite sufficient.