Should we also bill the person who started the fire?

If so, wouldn't it be double billing to bill that person and also the drone operators?

By that logic, a monitor also isn't an output device, unless you're using it to program a Timex Datalink.

3. Further testing of struts in stock found one that failed at 2,000 pounds of force

I think it will work out substantially cheaper in the long run to test every strut rather than to go crazy with the material specification.

That reminds me of the joke about the boy scout who would test all his matches and save the ones that lit successfully.

Except into the turning lane.

Someday there will be little robots that swarm out after an explosion to quickly gather up all the people bits, identify which bits belong to which person, 3D print any missing or uselessly damaged parts, and glue them all back together, all within 5 minutes before the brain starts to suffer from hypoxia.

Imagine getting blown to bits one day, then the next day you're right back on the front line.

Maybe they could put a few of these into airliners also, made out of the same stuff as the black boxes.

a system composed of people can be debugged in the same manner as code

False.

o It's point to point; I start where I am and I end up where I'm going

It's nice to have valet parking wherever you go, but I usually have to park and walk somewhere and then walk to the entrance.

o It's considerably more secure; windows up, doors locked, only trusted riders are on-board, and I control the vehicle

If only that were enough to make cars safer than buses and trains.

o I have my music (and my ham radio gear), in short, the environment is customized for me

With all those distractions, you're asking for trouble!

o There's no waiting, no calling, and no communications problems

There's also no reading or texting and you can't use your laptop while you commute. It's all dead time.

I think the most common case by far is that people use it because they have to use it.

People must not like driving very much either or cities wouldn't need to force property owners to have parking (why do we manage parking the same way the Soviet Union managed toilet paper and other basic provisions?), and the roads would pay for themselves 100% through gas taxes and user fees instead of less than 50%.

When you say the 85th percentile rule "has been properly and professionally researched and reproduced," I believe you are referring to the Solomon Curve published in 1964. But that was back when people drove more safely out of necessity because cars were deathtraps. Do you have any evidence that the 85th percentile rule reduces fatalities today? Bonus points if you can prove that it reduces car-motorcycle, car-bicycle, and car-pedestrian fatalities. Good luck!

It's unfortunate when speeds are set by the fastest 15% of drivers in a country where 80% of drivers think they are above average and are therefore unqualified to determine a reasonable and prudent speed.

speed limits are almost *always* way lower than the speed it's actually safe to drive.

That's partially true, assuming a very broad interpretation of the word "almost". Speed limits are set according to ideal driving conditions (daytime, dry roads, perfect visibility, drivers paying attention to the road) with a small margin for safety. Under anything other than those ideal conditions, the Basic Speed Law requires (see link above) you to slow down to a reasonable and appropriate speed despite the posted speed limit.

The flashing red is the yellow phase.

Where is that true? Not in California.

It's probably the same thinking that gave pedestrians two red phases (flashing and solid "don't walk"), one green phase, and no yellow phase.

But building more roads doesn't make people drive more...

Actually, yes, it does.

People aren't going to "fill up" the freeway at times when they don't have a reason to be on it.

Your logic is circular. That's funny.

Anyway, whether a freeway fills up depends on the capacity of the freeway and the number of people who want to take their cars on it at the same time. You don't seem to believe it, but this is always true, even in the middle of the night.