Comment Re:How hard is it to recognize a stoplight? (Score 2) 287
If I was walking across an intersection, I would trust a Google SDC far more than someone late for an appointment, driving a Chevy Tahoe with a cellphone in one hand, a Starbucks latte in the other, and two screaming kids in the back seat.
The problem you have is, someone like that wont let the car drive itself because a self driving car will stick to speed limits and slow down at pedestrian crossings because it will be programmed to anticipate stopping at a pedestrian crossing (like a defensive driver is trained to do). Nope, someone that self adsorbed and with such poor time management skills will be taking manual control with the pedal pressed to the floor whilst screaming into their phone. You simply cant overcome selfishness with a new technology.
But actual autonomous cars are years away from practical use. Decades away from the way you're thinking. The first autonomous cars will be normal cars with an autonomous mode that only works on specially upgraded roads which you can guarantee will be limited access roads (freeways and motorways) with no traffic lights.