Self-driving cars

[b4uqzme]

The Google self-driving cars were in the news this morning. Do people really want these? I guess I don't get it. I truly enjoy driving. I'm not sure what this says about society. Are we too lazy to drive? Too irresponsible to be safe drivers? Too busy doing other things to pay attention to the road? Or is it just cool technology? Find me a car that washes itself and changes it's own oil and I might get on board.

[JohnR]

The only news I see lately is about self-crashing cars. I can crash my car perfectly fine on my own, thank you very much.

[SlowBurn]

The Google self-driving cars were in the news this morning. Do people really want these? I guess I don't get it. I truly enjoy driving. I'm not sure what this says about society. Are we too lazy to drive? Too irresponsible to be safe drivers? Too busy doing other things to pay attention to the road? Or is it just cool technology? Find me a car that washes itself and changes it's own oil and I might get on board.

Most will want to drive their own cars if they can. The thing I hate most about flying or taking a subway is that someone else is driving.
But if they can get the tech right, a self driving car could help some people. For example older people could keep their independence a little longer without being a danger to everybody. Its a real issue in Florida.

[getsome]

The cops are going to hate it, no more speeding tickets or DUI arrests they can collect dough for......

[b4uqzme]

^^^ there you go! get yourself all liquored up and let your car drive you home! Now I want one!

[JohnR]

The cops are going to hate it, no more speeding tickets or DUI arrests they can collect dough for......

I hadn't thought of that!

My idea for that is, you just tax everyone who has a drivers license. Call it a speed tax, red light tax, whatever. If the average amount collected from moving violation tickets in your state is, say, $200 per driver, then every licensed driver pays a $200 tax per year, but the good part is the cops don't pull anyone over any more for routine violations like speeding, red lights, etc. (only for serious stuff) but they use red light cameras and automated radar to catch speeders, and send you notices in the mail. Then if you don't get any speeding tickets you file for a refund. Or if you got a $50 ticket, you get a $150 refund. If you got $500 in tickets, you pay $300.

Seems to be the standard way government handles things these days.

[skiflydive]

I consider driving properly to be one of the high arts. IMHO there are far too many passengers riding in the drivers seat as it is. This just legitimizes it. You can have your "Self driving" cars. I'll still be blasting around in my '72 Mini Cooper.

[Longitude Zero]

I recall when European car builders were shocked that American drivers wanted cup holders in the cars as to Europeans driving is such an orgasmic experience why would anyone want cup holders.

[Longitude Zero]

The cops are going to hate it, no more speeding tickets or DUI arrests they can collect dough for......

Reality is way different. Almost 100% of officers hate dealing with DUI drivers. Alcohol brings out the worst in folks and in general drunks just need to be shot on sight as they are such despicalbly behaved individuals.

[b4uqzme]

Yeah. They expect everyone to have two hands on the wheel. Personally, I drive with my knee.

I just sold my 2004 Audi. The one cupholder was obviously an engineering afterthought.

[getsome]

Reality is way different. Almost 100% of officers hate dealing with DUI drivers. Alcohol brings out the worst in folks and in general drunks just need to be shot on sight as they are such despicalbly behaved individuals.

I agree...There have been two cases here in Atlanta in the past couple weeks of wrong way drivers on I-75 which ended up killing innocent people and the drunk driver walking away unharmed....In one case the accident happened at 5:30 am and the drunk was on probation from a previous DUI arrest....He was going north in the southbound lanes and killed a father and 2 kids... I hope they fry him this time....

[muggsy]

I recently took up walking after having my second knee replacement. It's a bit slower than driving, but it really saves on gas.

[Longitude Zero]

Almost all DUI drivers in crashes survive with minimal or NO injuries. They are so relaxed they go with the flow so to speak. LEO's actually love to see the DUI driver expire.

[Planedude]

We have very sophisticated auto pilots in aircraft these day. Hundreds of people from all over the world, have been killed when the flight crew trusted the automation completely...


If it can happen to a 500 million buck Airbus, your 40K "Google car" can certainly do the same.

[CJB]

I been telling people to go screw themselves for decades. A car that drives itself is just a variation on that theme. And hey, why not? In this life, folks are wanting to either:

a. Do something that feels good (or)
b. Blame anyone, or anything other than themselves.

In the case of the self driving car, they can accomplish both when they get into an wreck while hastening to my admonishion whilst the car tweetles itself down the byways.