Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Google's Self-Driving Car
Google releases full prototype of self-driving car
Yep, no people needed
Yep, no people needed
The car's speed is still capped at 25 mph, but now it has headlights and a smaller, sleeker-looking rooftop sensor array.And not in a particular hurry to get nowhere
0
Comments
The new word for this fear can be expressed with these following words.: “OMG what will a self driving car do to our driving skills?”
Like machines that question will become irrelevant. The best chess masters know they cannot compete with a computer. The smartest Jeapordy contestant can’t compete with a computer. And sooner or later the safest and best car driver on earth can’t compete with a computer.
Is that tragic?
No!
Stever and PF you both sound like driving enthusisasts. But the fact of the matter is the majority of the world views driving as a hindrance than a passion. Go to China or most countries outside Europe or North America and you will notice most people who can afford it would rather have chauffeurs than drive their own vehicles. Imagine an affordable Google self driving car in places like that? Such a vehicle will sell faster than the latest enlarged iphone 6.
What happens to the insurance industry when self driving cars don’t have accidents?
I think Warren Buffett should re-consider Geico ownership as a long term investment.
Or what happens when self driving cars are not perfected and there are accidents? Whose liable? If 8 lives are saved out out of 10 with self drive versus human drive is Google responsible for 2 deaths or should it be credited for saving 8 additional lives?
A large fleet of Uber self drive cars? This could make car ownership redundant.
These are exciting times and I hope such new vehicles succeeds because our grandchildren will view such vehicles as a necessity and will only go to Dude Tracks to drive cars with steering wheels and ranches to ride horses.
In fact i I hope to own one in 5 years or before if Google or Apple or Ford is the first to introduce one. The recent Mercedes Benz self drive car does not impress me because technology that costs a 6 digit figure is less impressive than one that costs a 5 digit figure.
Although there are people who are willing to spend $17000 for a gold Apple iWatch.
If something happens on the road in traffic (not exactly a cherry-picked rare situation) and mayhem is breaking loose in front of your self-driving car and you've been freed up watch a movie on your mobile device or "catch up on work" (and this is what I hear a lot of people thinking they will be able to do), has your smart car considered escape routes, or does it just apply the brakes to stop you and then you get plowed by traffic from behind? Does it choose the "best worst option" or does it try to avoid things in sequence?
Has nothing to do with being a driving enthusiast.
Someday, someone who thinks they don't need to know how to do anything because they can "google it" on their phone is going to find themselves in a situation where they'll need to know how to make a fire.
But seriously I know what you are saying.
Of course, autonomous or not, these marvy little cars will still be stuck in gridlock traffic most of the time.
On the plus side, maybe it will eliminate many of the truly bad drivers who are out to kill us all.
Cab expenses that can add up to hiring a full time human chauffeur.
Basing your commute on a bus schedule and taking many buses or on a a self driving car based on your very own personal schedule?
A self driving car really does sound compelling based on those two alternatives. And yes Google and Ford announced that they would only introduce such a car if they could be sold at a mainstream price.
I am now in New Mexico and I can understand how driving can be a pleasure. In Toronto traffic where I live that is another story.
"The next update, dubbed 7.0, which will come in a few months, will change the user interface and allow for highway driving with complete autonomy, with the driver letting go of the steering wheel and guiding itself to the destination. It also will have an option to drive itself with no human occupant to pick up a person—but only on private property."
Tesla to Upgrade Cars Through the Internet (Wall St. Journal)
No Thanks.
Years ago when Tesla was new to Canada I was so unimpressed with the sales rep. that I was scared to think about having this unique car serviced.
Also based on later stories this announcement from Elon Musk seems to have been a bit overhyped as he himself made an announcement later on to correct himself.
I will stick to a more humble Google car though I think the biggest hindrance to such a car is not technology but government regulation.
Flight would not have taken off over a century ago if we had so many regulators back then.
The Wright brothers endeavor would not be able to fly over the laws imposed by regulators. Probably today there would be no jet planes since regulators would be greatly concerned about an airplane dropping on top of our heads.
Even today regulators are trying to impede the progress of drones.
There are no Federal laws for self driving cars. Good luck in using self driving cars for State to State travel where each State has different laws or no laws about self driving cars.
And let's not even talk about Canada where I happen to reside. So even if the technology exists it is a pointy headed civil servant that is the one who will make it possible or impossible.