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Google Car Pulled Over For Driving Too Slow, Doesn't Get a Ticket (thenextweb.com)

Posted by samzenpus on from the a-little-bit-faster-now dept.

New submitter slickwillie writes: A Google self-driving car was pulled over for going too slow. A photo uploaded to Facebook by Zandr Milewski shows one of Google's self-driving cars being pulled over by a Mountain View, California police officer. On on its Self-Driving Car Project page on Google+ the team wrote: "We’ve capped the speed of our prototype vehicles at 25mph for safety reasons. We want them to feel friendly and approachable, rather than zooming scarily through neighborhood streets. The Mountain View Police Department also commented on the traffic stop in a blog post saying in part: "...The officer stopped the car and made contact with the operators to learn more about how the car was choosing speeds along certain roadways and to educate the operators about impeding traffic per 22400(a) of the California Vehicle Code. The Google self-driving cars operate under the Neighborhood Electric Vehicle Definition per 385.5 of the California Vehicle Code and can only be operated on roadways with speed limits at or under 35 mph. In this case, it was lawful for the car to be traveling on the street as El Camino Real is rated at 35 mph."

9 of 350 comments (clear)

  1. Mixed by markdavis · · Score: 5, Funny

    >"Google Car Pulled Over For Driving Too Slow, Doesn't Get a Ticket "

    I think you mean "slowly" (echos of my HS English teacher are in my mind).

    I can think of many times I am driving I wish others would get pulled over for driving too slowly :)

    I do not look forward to the day of mixed autonomous vs. non-autonomous conflict on the road! At least I hope the autonomous vehicles are predictable..... somehow I doubt my motorcycle will be self-driving.

    1. Re:Mixed by danbert8 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      No. You must have never been on the road before. You can ask my wife what I am most likely to yell at other drivers: "WHY ARE YOU BRAKING?!?!?" For some reason many people drive with their foot hovering over the brake pedal and will tap it repeatedly for no reason at all.

      --
      Yes it's an anecdote! Were you expecting original research in a Slashdot comment?
    2. Re:Mixed by therealkevinkretz · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Gotta love the oblivious jackass in the left lane who, after the sixth car has passed him on the right as there's nobody in front of him, hits his brakes to annoy the guy behind him who's about to be number seven. Because everyone else is the problem, and not him.

  2. So, they're not fully tested yet? by TWX · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Basically what I take away from this is that the cars are not ready for prime-time if they're limited to NEV speeds and have been mostly used in suburban neighborhoods.

    I actually want autonomous vehicles. I want them to be capable of driving entirely without occupant involvement beyond stating a destination. I do want honest disclosure of how development is going though, and most of the discussion to this point has made it sound like they were further along and further tested than this article describes.

    --
    Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    1. Re:So, they're not fully tested yet? by andymadigan · · Score: 5, Informative

      These prototypes may not be ready for prime time. Personally, I wouldn't buy a car that can't cross the Bay Bridge.

      However, other "Google Cars" (like the modified Lexus) are capable of full highway speed. There are several autonomous vehicles that are being tested at highway speed.

      --
      The right to protest the State is more sacred than the State.
    2. Re:So, they're not fully tested yet? by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Informative

      Basically what I take away from this is that the cars are not ready for prime-time if they're limited to NEV speeds

      My wife's Telsa got an autopilot upgrade last week. It can now mostly drive itself. It stays in its lane, changes lanes when necessary, and can brake and/or accelerate to maintain distance. It works fine at full highway speed. It is clearly labeled as "beta" software, so you aren't allowed to take a nap or read a magazine, but The only time the human needs to take control is to turn at intersections.

    3. Re:So, they're not fully tested yet? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      Errr... I don't think it changes lanes "when necessary". It'll only change lanes when the driver uses the turn signal while autopilot is in operation (and when it has latched onto the proper lane markings).
      (yes, I have received the AP update too, but that was quite a while ago)

      It's very cool technology, but it requires much more attention than just at intersections. There's no need to overstate its abilities: it's already very impressive as it is.

  3. Bullshit by Etherwalk · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Cops pull people over for "driving too slowly" regardless of safety reasons all the time. And if you're from out of town they fine you. They didn't ticket the google car because it would have brought scrutiny, not because it was legal to drive that slowly on the road.

    1. Re:Bullshit by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Insightful

      They didn't ticket the google car because it would have brought scrutiny, not because it was legal to drive that slowly on the road.

      It may have also been because Google is Mountain View's biggest taxpayer and biggest employer. You don't bite the hand that feeds you.