Do you think in your lifetime you will every buy a driverless car?

[TexMichFan]

Doubt I will but it is interesting to contemplate as I get older.

This could really be a benefit to older folks in being able to keep their mobility options open and not having to rely so much on others.

 

[naturalmwa]

Yes

 

[DrVenkman]

I doubt I will. I think by the time they are available they will be mostly shared autos (like taxis or buses). I think if they do become reality in my life, than they will have to be considered to be exceedingly safe. The companies that have them could potentially use the data to say show that human driving is far less safe. Just a theory.

 

[dandh]

I hope so. When I get too old to drive safely (cue joke about tomorrow from some on here), I hope there is a way for me to get around that will be safe and relatively easy. That would be awesome.

 

[TexMichFan]

I doubt I will. I think by the time they are available they will be mostly shared autos (like taxis or buses). I think if they do become reality in my life, than they will have to be considered to be exceedingly safe. The companies that have them could potentially use the data to say show that human driving is far less safe. Just a theory.

Google already has cars logging 15,000 autonomous miles per week on city streets. They just had their first accident.

 

[DrVenkman]

Google already has cars logging 15,000 autonomous miles per week on city streets. They just had their first accident.

yep- there will be a few cities where the cars will log tons and tons of miles and, hopefully, there are few accidents. that is what they (goog and appl) eventually I guess think they will get from this endeavor. I think Austin is one they are pushing hard to get to agree to being one of the test cities.

 

[artradley]

Doubt I will but it is interesting to contemplate as I get older.

This could really be a benefit to older folks in being able to keep their mobility options open and not having to rely so much on others.

Doubt it -- because I'm old. But I think there's a very good chance my kids will have the opportunity.

 

[TexMichFan]

yep- there will be a few cities where the cars will log tons and tons of miles and, hopefully, there are few accidents. that is what they (goog and appl) eventually I guess think they will get from this endeavor. I think Austin is one they are pushing hard to get to agree to being one of the test cities.

Wonder if they have done some kind of computer simulation of traffic patterns if all cars go the speed limit.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

I'll be going electric first. Not sure if with a Volt or Tesla. The latest generations have been incredible cars.

 

[St. Louis Hawk]

Yes. I'm betting in 12 years, the majority of cars in urban areas will be driverless. The technology is clearly here now. The only thing they need to figure out is whether the driverless car should obey all laws, or find a "best fit" for the traffic conditions to avoid being a potential rolling roadblock.

 

[TexMichFan]

Doubt it -- because I'm old. But I think there's a very good chance my kids will have the opportunity.

Besides the younger generation will be more trusting than us old folks.

 

[TexMichFan]

Yes. I'm betting in 12 years, the majority of cars in urban areas will be driverless. The technology is clearly here now. The only thing they need to figure out is whether the driverless car should obey all laws, or find a "best fit" for the traffic conditions to avoid being a potential rolling roadblock.

There will be some but I don't think it will be a majority.

Why do you think it will change that quickly?

 

[Hawk-A-Doodle-Doo]

Doubt I will but it is interesting to contemplate as I get older.

This could really be a benefit to older folks in being able to keep their mobility options open and not having to rely so much on others.

In Soviet Russia...driverless car buys you.

 

[Funky Bunch]

No my chauffeur is a good guy. I wouldn't want him to be out of work.

 

[Lone Clone]

Doubt I will but it is interesting to contemplate as I get older.

This could really be a benefit to older folks in being able to keep their mobility options open and not having to rely so much on others.

Absolutely. I'm not going to spend extra to get a driver when I buy a car. I'll drive it myself.

 

[thewop]

Besides the younger generation will be more trusting than us old folks.

And the younger generation is much less excited about driving than previous generations were.

 

[TexMichFan]

No my chauffeur is a good guy. I wouldn't want him to be out of work.

Typical of you conservatives protecting the service job well ignoring the manufacturing jobs.

You can always buy a driverless car and just pay your chauffeur to sit up front. This would extend the number of years your chauffeur would be paid.

 

[kn288]

I hope they make trucks too. I'll look stupid road tripping on a gravel road in a car. Plus where will I throw my beer cans?

 

[artradley]

And the younger generation is much less excited about driving then previous generations were.

Boy that's the truth. It is a massive change in a generation's attitude: my kids and their friends are totally ambivalent about driving or owning a car.

Personally, I completely trust technology over human drivers.

 

[TexMichFan]

I hope they make trucks too. I'll look stupid road tripping on a gravel road in a car. Plus where will I throw my beer cans?

They will have a built in trash compactor.

 

[St. Louis Hawk]

There will be some but I don't think it will be a majority.

Why do you think it will change that quickly?

IMO, it's much like a subset of Moore's law and the technology singularity - Technology doesn't advance linearly; in relation to price, technology gains double about every 18 months. That's 6 to 8 more cycles related to this technology -- and customers will want that when they can have their 30-90 minute daily commutes turn into 30-90 minutes of productive or relaxing time. Just my 2 cents.

 

[coloradonoles]

Doubt it -- because I'm old. But I think there's a very good chance my kids will have the opportunity.

This...

 

[Doodads and Hoohah]

Very eye opening article regarding this in Newsweek a few months back. On mobile or would link. Article in Time magazine this week.

 

[BelemNole]

I don't see it happening any time soon - I still buy manual transmission vehicles.

 

[ChrisVarick]

I'm assuming driverless will be the only option within 20 years.

 

[TexMichFan]

IMO, it's much like a subset of Moore's law and the technology singularity - Technology doesn't advance linearly; in relation to price, technology gains double about every 18 months. That's 6 to 8 more cycles related to this technology -- and customers will want that when they can have their 30-90 minute daily commutes turn into 30-90 minutes of productive or relaxing time. Just my 2 cents.

IMO Moore's Law would translate to the technology to make it possible but not to overcoming how people feel about sitting in a car and not having control.

Agree with you on the productive or relaxing time you could get and that may be enough.

 

[SoDakHawk]

Highly doubt they could get one of these vehicles to be able to operate in inclement weather like there is up north here. Anybody that has driven in winter weather (and through some white knuckle sh!t) knows driving on roads that are ice and snow covered is something that requires some "feel". Besides, how accurately can they really map out some of the rural areas? Would you trust the maps to be accurate? What about rapidly changing areas like construction zones?

 

[Hawk and Awe]

What happens when a driverless car makes a mistake and someone dies? Does every accident turn into a corporate law suit?

And even more interesting... What happens when the machine has to decide between hitting a pedestrian and swerving off the road killing the driver (or the millions of similar scenarios). How does the programming decide who to kill?

I think we get past these issues, but it's complicated

 

[Floyd R.]

IMO Moore's Law would translate to the technology to make it possible but not to overcoming how people feel about sitting in a car and not having control.

Agree with you on the productive or relaxing time you could get and that may be enough.

People's attitudes will change very quickly when insurance companies are charging much much higher rates for those who drive their cars everywhere than those who don't.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

If there is an option to switch between manual driving and driverless mode I could see myself buying one.

I don't think I could go for a car that is always driverless.

 

[RockEyeState]

Doubt I will but it is interesting to contemplate as I get older.

This could really be a benefit to older folks in being able to keep their mobility options open and not having to rely so much on others.

I like how one of the 'high-tech' companies announced their 'driver-less cars' needed Drivers
due to crashes when there was no driver. LOL

I don't want some pinhead designed, flawed robot driving my car.
I'll Drive my car, thank you very little.

 

[ChrisVarick]

Highly doubt they could get one of these vehicles to be able to operate in inclement weather like there is up north here. Anybody that has driven in winter weather (and through some white knuckle sh!t) knows driving on roads that are ice and snow covered is something that requires some "feel". Besides, how accurately can they really map out some of the rural areas? Would you trust the maps to be accurate? What about rapidly changing areas like construction zones?

I doubt they will ever get a computer to beat. chess Grand Champion. Computers will be able to read and react to road conditions in a way far superior to humans.

 

[thedirtyglass]

They will have a built in trash compactor.

 

[naturalmwa]

You're a good one, I hope you stick around.

 

[St. Louis Hawk]

IMO Moore's Law would translate to the technology to make it possible but not to overcoming how people feel about sitting in a car and not having control.

Agree with you on the productive or relaxing time you could get and that may be enough.

I doubt they will ever get a computer to beat. chess Grand Champion. Computers will be able to read and react to road conditions in a way far superior to humans.

Big Blue already beat the best chess player ever in a best of 7.

 

[naturalmwa]

Big Blue already beat the best chess player ever in a best of 7.

And wasn't that over a decade ago?

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I doubt I will. I think by the time they are available they will be mostly shared autos (like taxis or buses).

This.

Why own?

 

[The Tradition]

Oh, I'll probably buy one as a toy. Well, technically... my LLC will buy it.

 

[TexMichFan]

What happens when a driverless car makes a mistake and someone dies? Does every accident turn into a corporate law suit?

And even more interesting... What happens when the machine has to decide between hitting a pedestrian and swerving off the road killing the driver (or the millions of similar scenarios). How does the programming decide who to kill?

I think we get past these issues, but it's complicated

I had dinner with my old college roommate tonight who is also my insurance agent. He has a very successful agency for a major insurance company.

I asked him about driverless cars and he said his company plans on being out of the auto insurance business by 2030. The main reason is driverless cars and how that will impact the business.

 

[TexMichFan]

People's attitudes will change very quickly when insurance companies are charging much much higher rates for those who drive their cars everywhere than those who don't.

I had dinner with my old college roommate tonight who is also my insurance agent. He has a very successful agency for a major insurance company.

I asked him about driverless cars and he said his company plans on being out of the auto insurance business by 2030. The main reason is driverless cars and how that will impact the business.