Music Lover
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I'm going to hold off on buying stock in self driving cars because it's only a matter of time until someone hacks into one and causes a major pile-up.
Other than that, I see little practical consistent value for one.
Yep, 1 & 2. I have a quibble on 2 if you are on a campus that has rent by the hour cars (ie zipcar). DD got through college that way.
Self driving car would work well for bar patrons who need to get home without attracting the law for a "blow test".
Reasonably priced driverless cars change the picture a lot.
Secondly, owning a driverless car will still require registration, taxes, insurance, upkeep, etc.
A multi-user driverless car is going to have much lower per mile costs than a POV that sits idle in a driveway 95% of the time. And a major cost for rental operators and cabs is insurance, it sounds like driverless cars may reduce those costs, too.
I enjoy driving and wouldn't fall into a likely user group for these cars. But if they become practical they will fundamentally change the way we use cars.
A multi-user driverless car is going to have much lower per mile costs than a POV that sits idle in a driveway 95% of the time. And a major cost for rental operators and cabs is insurance, it sounds like driverless cars may reduce those costs, too.
I enjoy driving and wouldn't fall into a likely user group for these cars. But if they become practical they will fundamentally change the way we use cars.
Here is a related issue. If the computer in the driverless car or any component of the guidance system fails causing an accident, who is liable? The car owner or the car manufacturer? Right now, if you lend your car to somebody else who then causes an accident, you are still liable in a civil lawsuit while the driver may face criminal charges.
And, despite the present fears of mass transit planners (who loathe the idea of self driving cars as extending the reign of the "wasteful" automobile over their preferred option of trains), driverless cars might be the critical link in improving the practicality/public acceptance of mass transit by eliminating the "last mile" problem. Often getting from home to the train station and from the train station to the final destination doubles the cost and hassles of the trip. With a swarm of these cars to handle that, the train/subway becomes a more attractive option in some cases. And, as a bonus, a car that is constantly in use doesn't require a parking space.I think a public transportation vehicle that pick's people up at home will be the winning approach for this car. I can't see how it would not be cost effective vs our current model and unlike buses and even taxis more customer friendly. Maybe it only eliminates the second car but that's a lot of cars.
+1. If nothing else I'd think there will be many one car families that used to have/want two or more cars. Owning one, and having another on call sounds ideal to me now!I think a public transportation vehicle that pick's people up at home will be the winning approach for this car. I can't see how it would not be cost effective vs our current model and unlike buses and even taxis more customer friendly. Maybe it only eliminates the second car but that's a lot of cars.
I also think it will encourage bicycling. If these cars are patient and taught to share the road, parents will allow their kids to ride their bikes to school and adults will not be as concerned as well. It may end the need for a ton of expensive road infrastructure to add 'sharing the road' safety features. But this is a dream that is likely beyond my life time.
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Not sure that self-driving cars will any more accident-prone than all the human drivers applying make-up, fixing their hair, surfing the web, exhibiting rude/road rage behavior, etc.
Not to mention drunks and stoners...
I do not know if Google has completely removed the steering wheel or any means of human input. A presentation by Google I saw some time ago said that the rider was alert to override or provide assistance as needed. How often that human intervention that has been invoked, they did not say.This issue was discussed during the 60 Minutes story and the manufacturers realize to get this type of system accepted by the public they will have to accept liability if there is any type of system failure that causes an accident. They are quick to point out how accident free the system has been so far in testing.
+1. If nothing else I'd think there will be many one car families that used to have/want two or more cars. Owning one, and having another on call sounds ideal to me now!
I watched my parents grow old, as I suspect many on here have. I remember my father got worse and died of medical complications before he killed himself on the road. I remember my brother and I deciding to disconnect the battery in my mothers car to prevent her from driving. Long story, but she got lost driving to church.
Much has been written about the elderly and the concern of giving up their independence and to the extent their car represents that. Being able to shop, go out to eat, or to the doctors without assistance is of major concern to seniors that don't want to impose on friends and neighbors. As the baby boomer generation reaches the point that their kids are wanting to take their keys away, I see the self driving auto as one of the solutions.
won't make sense to people anymore.I'd prefer to die quietly in my sleep like my grandfather than screaming in terror like his passengers
Outside of testing and in the real world, how alert will people really be when the car is driving itself?? Too many of them aren't alert now, so I assume it will only get worse.
Sooner or later a person who hasn't "driven" a vehicle in months/years will suddenly be forced to take control in a possible emergency situation. How well will that turn out when their skills have diminished from lack of use?
Sooner or later a person who hasn't "driven" a vehicle in months/years will suddenly be forced to take control in a possible emergency situation. How well will that turn out when their skills have diminished from lack of use?
And, despite the present fears of mass transit planners (who loathe the idea of self driving cars as extending the reign of the "wasteful" automobile over their preferred option of trains), driverless cars might be the critical link in improving the practicality/public acceptance of mass transit by eliminating the "last mile" problem. Often getting from home to the train station and from the train station to the final destination doubles the cost and hassles of the trip. With a swarm of these cars to handle that, the train/subway becomes a more attractive option in some cases. And, as a bonus, a car that is constantly in use doesn't require a parking space.