Why Would Driverless Cars Need Rules For Crashing?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-37418119
we are continually being told they are perfect.

[Zacs-Master]

Jno, I was specifically respoding to Naomi's comment 'Cars screeching to a halt because a piece of litter blows across their path doesn’t seem terribly safe to me'

But thanks for confirming that, in such a situation, an driverless car would react better. I'm sure that's some comfort to Naomi and her Luddite friends. ;-)

[naomi24]

I’ve no doubt that appropriate distances between vehicles will be easily accomplished, but I have visions of a large sheet of newspaper unexpectedly blowing past a windscreen, the computer slamming the brakes on, occupants being thrown forward, seat belts tightening, airbags activating, and the following cars, having also slammed their brakes on, all in a similar situation. Just musing – but it seems to me that in those circumstances chaos would ensue simply because the computer cannot rationalise in the same way a human being can.

[Gromit]

No divebuddy, there may be a safe gap between cars, but they will be travelling at 200mph plus.

[vulcan42]

\\ It is just irrational to assume that because computers cannot be perfect they must also be incapable of being better. //
If I'm sitting in a 1 ton machine travelling at 200 miles an hour, I would like to think the controlling computers are perfect and not slightly better.

[jennyjoan]

Best Answer to Caran

"I have been confused about these cars. I didn't realise they had passengers. I thought the car just went off on its own, and I wondered why, what would the car do when it got to where it was going."

I am just in from shopping and I have had a really belly laugh at Caran - Thanks Caran - I needed that!!!

[bhg481]

For the last 8 years and 160,000 miles I have had a car with adaptive cruise control. The "adaptive" bit means that it attempts to keep to a speed selected by the driver but also watches the road ahead and slows down the car if it starts to catch up the car in front or even if it spots a hazard in the road. In all that time it has not once stamped on the brakes when a piece of newspaper blew across the road. If it were to do, the only cars liable to run into the back of it would be those driven by human beings - computer controlled cars would follow with a safe gap.

[ToraToraTora]

get real gromit 200mph! So those still driving their own cars will have to get a move on then!

[ToraToraTora]

cruise control does not stop bhg, it maintains a speed only, I would not stop if a brick wall was ahead.

[Gromit]

For Funks Sake how many more times do I have to say - the infrastructure will change. Human driven cars will be separated from the the autonomous cars. Those in the atonomous lane will go twice as fast as those driven by idiot drivers.

[bhg481]

TTT - please read my post again. Mine is ADAPTIVE cruise control - it DOES put the brakes on if required.

[Zacs-Master]

I also drive a Volvo with adaptive cruise. It takes some getting used to but is the best invention I've experienced in motoring in 35 years of driving.

[bhg481]

Agreed ZM

[ToraToraTora]

so they are going to replace all the motorways gromit? I know they could actually put the cars on metal tracks and have lots of people in them at once then they'd not have to be steered.........hang on!

[Gromit]

Apple is in the process of trying to acquire McClaren Formula 1 Group. I suspect it is not for their bicycle technology. Hint: McClaren makes cars that go very very fast.

[1ozzy]

Don't know why some distrust the technology.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWgrvNHjKkY