How Would Driver-less Cars Change Motoring?

Hugh Pickens writes "BBC reports that as Nevada licenses Google to test its prototype driver-less car on public roads, futurists are postulating what a world of driver-less would cars look like. First, accidents would go down. 'Your automated car isn't sitting around getting distracted, making a phone call, looking at something it shouldn't be looking at or simply not keeping track of things,' says Danny Sullivan. Google's car adheres strictly to the speed limit and follows the rules of the road. 'It doesn't speed, it doesn't cut you off, it doesn't tailgate,' says Tom Jacobs, a spokesman for the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Driver-less cars would mean a more productive commute. 'If you truly trust the intelligence of the vehicle, then you get in the vehicle and you do our work while you're traveling,' says engineer Lynne Irwin. They would mean fewer traffic jams. 'Congestion would be something you could tell your grandchildren about, once upon a time.' Driver-less cars could extend car ownership to some groups of people previously unable to own a car, including elderly drivers who feel uncomfortable getting behind the wheel at night, whose eyesight has weakened or whose reaction time has slowed." Another reader points out an article suggesting autonomous cars could eventually spell the end of auto insurance.

Comments

Re:We already have driverless cars

[IrrepressibleMonkey]

If someone gets engaged in a deep conversation on the phone, their driving skills drop below that of someone with 0.08% blood alcohol...

I'll drink to that! I made this very argument quite recently, but the idiot Judge still took my license...

It's all fun and games until TrafficNet

[HangingChad]

On April 21, TrafficNet became self-aware and decided to play a giant game of bumper cars.

Re:We already have driverless cars

[Khashishi]

Maybe we already have driverless cars, but I prefer driverless cars that have an actual robot control system.

Re:It just doesn't work

[Anonymous Coward]

but 127.0.0.1 seems to be just filled with porn

Re:It just doesn't work

[SJHillman]

But who would drive me to the bus stop?

Re:We already have driverless cars

[Cro Magnon]

Any municipality that allows cellphone use while driving is, essentially, endorsing driverless cars.

Or maybe population reduction.