Take me for a ride...
I feel like pretty much every time I get in the car and head out on the road these days it becomes even clearer to me just how much we need self driving cars. I know this is a pretty controversial subject and quite honestly, I think a lot of it is simply tied to our idea of "control". I also think it is plagued with biases, misconceptions, and misinformation. Here's a little example:
I was sitting around the campfire with some friends the other day and I mentioned my feelings on self driving cars. It was a pretty easy going and open conversation, but as soon as the topic was brought up, they basically shut down. They started talking about how they were more than happy driving their gas car. Oddly enough, nothing was ever mentioned about electric cars. I was simply talking about automated cars. I get that Tesla does both electric cars well and self driving well, so it's only natural that the two would get so easily lumped together, but I also think this highlights the biases and misconceptions I mentioned earlier.
I'm sure @ericvancewalton has experienced similar situations.
It's true, I have yet to hear about a self driving gas car, but it's not unbelievable to think it wouldn't be possible. I guess time will tell.
Working in IT, I trust computers. They are actually pretty dumb despite this whole AI trend. You give them data, they process the data, they give you a result. I have a person where I work who constantly comes to me and tells me one of our IT processes isn't working. The truth is, the process is actually working just fine, but the data that is being given to it is bad. She only sees the data on the back end, so she assumes the process is broken.
Like I said, computers are dumb (to a degree).
They simply do a task with the data that has been given. It's not the computers fault if the data is bad to begin with.
I realize me saying computers are dumb might not give you a lot of faith in my argument that computers should be driving our cars, but just stick with me here...
source
This is rare occurrence where I had to use Pixabay for this image because I didn't have a good one of my own that depicted traffic. As I said, the more I drive, the more I realize how much better off we would be if self driving cars were the norm.
Let's break this down...
Driver A is that idiot who is going 95 MPH in a 70 MPH zone and gets mad when driver B is only going 80 MPH (again, in a 70 MPH zone). He's likely talking on his hands free phone, and feeling quite entitled. I know the photo doesn't look like it, but he is also probably driving a BMW.
Driver B is a guy like me. Perhaps a little aggressive with his driving, but happy to just set cruise control at 80 MPH in the 70 MPH zone and mind his own business. Always keeping an eye on the traffic around him and just waiting for someone to cut him off because you know it's coming at some point.
Driver C is guy on his way to work playing on his phone, the radio, and eating his sausage McMuffin with egg all while trying to focus on driving.
Driver D is also on her way to work, but she is busy trying to merge with traffic while thinking about the big meeting she has later that day and also trying to put her makeup on.
Driver E wants to be like Driver A, but they aren't even on the expressway yet and they are stuck behind this lady doing her makeup. That means as soon as they see an opening they are going to cut across three lanes of traffic so they can go 95 MPH.
Driver F is a dad trying to get his kids to school in the morning for drop off. They are screaming in the back seats, throwing Cheerios all over and they are all trying to figure out if
Timmy forgot his football gear at home. He gets in the left lane to get around the car in front of him not realizing Driver A is barreling up the expressway at 95 MPH with Driver E close behind him.You can make up your own stories for Driver G and H, but you get the idea.
That's a whole lot of chaos happening. Some might argue it's controlled chaos, but let's be honest.
Control is a lie
You think you are in control, you think you are good at multitasking, but one small hiccup by any of the drivers in this photo and suddenly you have mass carnage.
Now let's imagine a world where all of these vehicles are working in a giant network, adhering to a strict set of parameters and controls that work in concert to ensure that everyone just like data gets to their destination as quickly, efficiently, and intact as possible.
Let's say even two of the cars above are still people driving the traditional way. I still like my odds more than the chaos I depicted in the example. Data suggests there are about 17,000 auto accidents per day in the US. That's actually lower than I expected, but still not an insignificant number. I'm still putting my odds on a computer being more reliable.
I realize I am getting close to 1000 words for this post and I haven't even touched on the topics of road rage, impatience, and overall mental health when driving. It's been suggested that self driving cars would alleviate a lot of the stressors and negative emotions that driving can introduce.
I'll be the first to admit, I get frustrated when someone cuts me off in traffic. I probably drive closer to the person in front of me than I should, I think I can stop fast enough, but as I get older my reflexes are going to get slower, but @mrsbozz will have that "I told you so" out of her mouth at record speed.
What do you think? Where do you stand on the idea of self driving cars?
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People's emotional states lead to vehicular accidents and fatalities every day. Let's face it, some people just shouldn't be driving in the the first place... If emotional variables were completely removed accidents would be lessened no doubt. But we also open up the potential for massive hacks, software not being compatible,.... There will never be a perfect system, but removing human emotion might now be a completely bad thing.
In aviation from the time the plane is 200 feet in the air the autopilot is engaged and usually stay on until the last seconds before landing. Yes pilots can make course adjustments according to weather, but the plane is control of the flying making it safer. Most planes now can takeoff and land autonomously, but in the US it's mandated a pilot to the takeoff and landing...
Those are some great points. The hacking is definitely a concern for sure. I just know driving on the road it gets pretty scary and nerve wrecking. The comment by @galenkp actually got me thinking about how much I do enjoy driving when there aren't so many morons around me and it got me thinking this might be something solely reserved for the expressways. Kind of like a personal mass transit system. Or as you mentioned, autopilot in the air. Like many things the best solution probably lies somewhere in the middle.
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EVs, self-driving, and really the whole wave of AI and robotics that's on our doorstep has taught me how scared people of of change. Also, absolutely everything is politicized now which adds a different facet to the issues. Owning a Tesla for the past three years has given me a front row seat to this fear. I remember driving my car to an outdoor Halloween party a few years ago. This was back before Republicans embraced Tesla. I spent almost the entire evening listening to people rant about how evil EVs were. I was just there to have a good time and visit.
I remember reading how afraid people were of electricity and cars around the turn of the last century. They even believed the wall sockets leaked harmful "vapors". Once people try a truly capable self-driving system I think most will gladly let their car drive them and, eventually, it will be odd to see a human driving. Most modern cars will be able to be retrofitted with a self-driving system. Insurance companies will offer steep discounts for people who opt for autonomous driving because it'll be 10x safer.
We're watching Downton Abbey now and I was struck by how similar our society will be in this next decade to the aristocrats of the 19th century. People who can afford a robot will essentially have house-staff who will rely on it for their cooking, cleaning, chores, and anything else a servant would have done in the Victorian era.
That's definitely crazy to think about. I've actually shifted my view a little bit from when I wrote this post. I could see a bit of a hybrid model where expressways use the technology almost like a mass transit system, but back road could still be manual if you prefer. As I said in another comment, I'm not even sure a self driving system would require AI. I'm still on the fence about the whole thing (AI).
It sure is. Yes, I can see a transitionary period where certain lanes will be dedicated to autonomous driving. The speed limits will be able to be increased because it will be more safe. I don't think we'll see human drivers going away soon or all at once. It'll be more gradual probably. There are so many things to be afraid of when it comes to AI. It scares me too.
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Thatās pretty funny. You never said electronic carsā¦.š¤£š¤£š¤£
People are very stupid, just ask them to speakā¦..š¤¦š»
Love it
!pimp
It definitely shows the biases and narratives that people have been sold.
I don't do much driving these days, but when I do a long drive I would love to have the car take over. At the weekend we were up in northern England so it was over four hours each way. That is mostly on motorway that should be fairly simple for a machine to handle, but it's boring for humans. The road was pretty empty coming home late on Sunday, so it was an easy drive, but still tiring. There was an accident at one point where the traffic all bunched up and slowed down, but otherwise it was fine.
I actually forgot that our car has cruise control as I hardly ever use it :) A lot of our driving is on smaller, winding roads where it is less useful. I am not sure I'd trust self-driving on the small lanes around here.
I've seem concepts where cars communicate to be more efficient. They could slipstream each other safely. Humans are less predictable and easily distracted.
Yeah, I agree with all of that. Those are some good scenarios and good points. We live and die by cruise control over here. The distances are so long it's almost a necessity. I remember my first car didn't have it and I made some long tiring drives with that thing.
I agreed with the pros you shared but I'd still feel tensed inside one. It's not about the car, it's my mind that needs convincing.
I can understand that. I think it would be a growing period for all of us.
Indeed.
Vintage cars is on the way šš¼
Yeah, those would be a problem too. I don't expect folks to retrofit everything.
Your article was a pleasure to read! The clear examples you use to illustrate the chaos and human error in traffic perfectly illustrate the importance of autonomous vehicles. It's also great that you emphasize how reliable computers can be with data and the potential for driverless vehicles to reduce stress. This is definitely a thought-provoking and informative article. @bozz
Thanks, I appreciate that. I don't think it would be perfect, but I definitely think it would solve some of the larger issues.
Thank you so much! I feel the same way. My priority is utility, not perfection. @bozz
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We should have AI live our lives in full; why would a human want to waste their time living their own life when it's fraught with danger, complexity, failure and the possibility of being subjected to human frailty and fallibility?
Nah, get the AI's to live life on behalf of humans and think of all the time humans would have to...umm...err...hmm...not sure what.
Driverless cars? Nope.
It's actually funny that you mention that. Just like my friends with the whole gas thing, I never said anything about AI. I think this could be a totally closed system with zero AI involved at all. I was going to point that out in my post, but it was already getting too long. On the backroads here in the US, it isn't as big of a deal, but on the expressways people are just plain nuts and they are putting everyone at risk with their reckless behavior.
I know, it was a point I brought up. I am pro-human and think humans rely on, and have wet dreams over, automation far too much. It's lazy and limiting.
"Driving is too dangerous and annoying." Let automation do it.
"Humans are too reckless." Let AI and automation do it.
"Living is too complicated." Let AI do it.
I can't wait until humans become extinct, we are fucken garbage. (A look on the events around the world will punctuate that point.)
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I loathe the idea of a self-driving car--because I am a control freak. However, as I am slowly confronting the reality that night driving is no longer wise for me or my husband, a self-driving car offers the prospect of continued independence. We've recently installed an automated chair for navigating our staircase. We have automatic lights that go on when we walk in the hallway at night. I don't resent these aids to independent living. I guess a car that can drive at night, handle airport traffic, and speed along on the highways might be a neat addition to our lifestyle.
Now if you can do something about the dreadful state of air travel, maybe I can even fly again....:)
Oh, I wish I could do something about air travel, believe me!
On some roads it might work , but there are still a lot of roads here in Europe that would need to be upgraded , on some roads i just need to turn of lane assist , they are so small that you need to drive over the line when other traffic is moving towards you , so imagine if both cars are on auto drive , no one gets home .
Holding on to petrol cars i can imagine you want at least a hybrid system in some areas of the US where the nearest gasstation or charge point is miles away.
Those are some great points. As I pointed out in another comment it might not be as necessary on the back roads or those two lane highways as you mentioned, but here in the US the expressways are getting downright dangerous. People are just too self absorbed and in too much of a hurry. Myself included. It's a perfect storm brewing.
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