Journal Rick Schumann's Journal: Self-driving cars 12
So you argue that '80% of accidents are caused by human drivers' and that's why you want to ban humans from operating motor vehicles. What you're not seeing is that now you're going to pin the safety of ALL human beings in vehicles on the work of a small group of 'human drivers', in the form of programmers writing code. Additionally you're also trusting the testing of companies that are being driven by marketers, who are insisting this technology be rushed to market as fast as they possibly can, all for the sake of profit. How can you not see that this is madness?
I will NEVER set foot into any vehicle that does not have controls for a human operator, and a way to completely override any automated driving system. I'd rather go to JAIL than trust my safety to such a system.
Luckily I am far from alone in my judgement of this technology and how media and investor hype is pushing it on us too quickly.
What's worse is how technologically ignorant our legislators and politicians are (demonstrably so; plenty of examples available). They don't know that the so-called 'AI' in these is not real 'AI', just half-assed 'learning algorithms'; it can't actually think. Accidents, injuries, and deaths will be inevitable. No thanks!
To those of you with enough common sense to see this is the truth, and that this technology is not anywhere near being ready for general use: Stay strong and keep being heard. Otherwise our governments will force it on us, with predictably disasterous results.
I will NEVER set foot into any vehicle that does not have controls for a human operator, and a way to completely override any automated driving system. I'd rather go to JAIL than trust my safety to such a system.
Luckily I am far from alone in my judgement of this technology and how media and investor hype is pushing it on us too quickly.
What's worse is how technologically ignorant our legislators and politicians are (demonstrably so; plenty of examples available). They don't know that the so-called 'AI' in these is not real 'AI', just half-assed 'learning algorithms'; it can't actually think. Accidents, injuries, and deaths will be inevitable. No thanks!
To those of you with enough common sense to see this is the truth, and that this technology is not anywhere near being ready for general use: Stay strong and keep being heard. Otherwise our governments will force it on us, with predictably disasterous results.
You have it backwards (Score:2)
You don't just immediately force everyone into automated cars. The sequence goes something like:
1. Voluntary uptake of automated features grows until cars start to resemble something most of us would call "automated".
2. Once technology has become widespread enough, inexpensive enough, and demonstrated a track record, new/refurbished highways can be designed to take advantage of these features and have automation-only lanes for throughput and safety.
3. Once the accident rate of automated cars vs human-operat
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I think if you examine the logic here, you'll see that the distinction as to whether the car drives itself or not is a minor implementation detail. You already are a slave to where the government decides to build roads, to all the rules of the road, to pay tolls on roads, to meet all emissions and safety standards. You are compelled to wear a safety belt (and in some states a helmet on your bike). You need to be registered and licensed. You are compelled to purchase insurance, and in doing so lose your abil
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Do you understand how it is that humans are able to use tools? It's because so far as our brain is concerned, the tool in your hand becomes an extension of your physical body. That phenomenon can't happen if you have no control over the tool you're trying to use. Strapping yourself into a box on wheels, that have no controls for you to manipulate, that can theoretically go wherever it wants to go, re
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Either YOU are in control of the vehicle, or the vehicle is in control of YOU. Which do you want it to be?
It's not binary. When you push down the gas pedal, computer algorithms leap into action and do all the hard stuff for you. As you accelerate, the torque converter opens and shuts valves, monitors RPM and throttle position, and shifts when it deems necessary. Toyota famously had some allegedly buggy firmware that accelerated people uncontrollably. Long gone are the days of manual timing levers, chokes, and idle adjustments. You are in less "control" of your vehicle than you were 100 years ago, and yet it is
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I'm sorry, but that's kind of absurd. Ben Franklin wouldn't have cared if the cars were under manual control or not. Freedom of movement is what is important - if automated vehicles somehow impede free travel then you might have a point. I'm having trouble coming up with a scenario and in fact I think they will enhance mobility. Traffic lights make us give up control for safety, but all in all they are pretty good.
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I guess I'm making my point poorly. I'm not saying that companies are good and trustworthy. I'm saying that we will only make self-driving cars mandatory in slow stages and after considerable evidence of their pros and cons is available. Like unmanned toll booths and the slow addition of "premium" lanes and congestion pricing on highways that then becomes possible.