Self driving cars will get their drivers killed

[fatjay]

Driving home from the hospital today, long mountain road. Driving behind a tesla. 40mph speed limit, did 35-40mph. Then it dropped to 35mph, and we were doing 30-35mph. Then it dropped to 25, and we were doing 20-25mph.

Then it went to 35, and we were doing 30-35. I was stuck behind him for miles, on a road that normally is very pleasant to drive 45-60. Nice, long, flowing bends and hills with wonderful scenery. And I was staring at the ass end of a pos tesla in self driving mode.

This is how self driving cars will cause road rage, and get their drivers killed.

I was holding out hope that it was just some old people driving, but then it came to a gradual, but complete stop, like it was stopping at a stop sign, when it saw this. It got confused. It was in the up position, for the record.

 

[grsthegreat]

How do you know it was in self driving mode?

personally, id never step foot in a self driving car.

 

[notaz3]

Drivers not paying attention when putting their car in 'self driving mode' will get their drivers killed.

 

[fatjay]

How do you know it was in self driving mode?

personally, id never step foot in a self driving car.

I was holding out hope that it was just some old people driving, but then it came to a gradual, but complete stop, like it was stopping at a stop sign, when it saw this. It got confused. It was in the up position, for the record.

For the record, I would never surrender control of a vehicle to a computer while I was in it.

 

[4570Man]

Self driving cars probably are going to get people killed. But people die in car crashes all the time so I don’t see why self driving is any different. People expect self driving cars to be 100 percent perfect meanwhile the current accident rate is a lot higher than 0.

 

[Roadworthy]

If a car is self driving does it have a driver? Who really gets killed - the supposed driver, the passenger, a pedestrian, or an unsuspecting motorist in another car? Was the car in the original post self driving or did it just have an inattentive looky loo for a driver?

 

[fatjay]

Self driving cars probably are going to get people killed. But people die in car crashes all the time so I don’t see why self driving is any different. People expect self driving cars to be 100 percent perfect meanwhile the current accident rate is a lot higher than 0.

Don't care. If i'm going to hand over power, it had better be perfect. Otherwise, why am I handing over power? People die in car crashes all the time, but they're stupid people driving stupidly. I'm a skilled driver paying attention, and do not get into accidents. Having a self driving car might reduce the idiot's chance of an accident, but it would increase my chances of an accident.

 

[4570Man]

Don't care. If i'm going to hand over power, it had better be perfect. Otherwise, why am I handing over power? People die in car crashes all the time, but they're stupid people driving stupidly. I'm a skilled driver paying attention, and do not get into accidents. Having a self driving car might reduce the idiot's chance of an accident, but it would increase my chances of an accident.

You never had any power to start with unless you’re driving on a closed course with only yourself. You could still easily be hit and killed by someone else. You don’t even have to be driving yourself for that to happen. Cars crash into pedestrians and buildings fairly often. Do you still have that skid steer without a cage? I’d be a lot more scared of that than a self driving car.

 

[fatjay]

You never had any power to start with unless you’re driving on a closed course with only yourself. You could still easily be hit and killed by someone else. You don’t even have to be driving yourself for that to happen. Cars crash into pedestrians and buildings fairly often. Do you still have that skid steer without a cage? I’d be a lot more scared of that than a self driving car.

I don't agree, I have the power. I have the power to avoid accidents, and I use it all the time. I keep track of every car in 50 yards of me in all directions. Front, rear, sides. I don't just get into a car and ride, I get into a car and actively drive. I can't remember the last time I was a passenger in the car, though.

I do have that skid without a cage, and I have not rolled it once. I'm aware of my surroundings, not just what's in front of me.

Accidents happen, sometimes. And on occasion, they're unavoidable even with the best awareness. But more often than not, they happen because of negligence, people not paying attention to what they're doing or where they're going. Even without distractions like phones and radio, people just get behind the wheel and only pay attention to what's in front of them, and get into the zone, and that's it.

People, all to often, are passengers in life, and in cars, even while driving. They are simply not paying attention to their surroundings. And it's a real issue.

 

[4570Man]

I don't agree, I have the power. I have the power to avoid accidents, and I use it all the time. I keep track of every car in 50 yards of me in all directions. Front, rear, sides. I don't just get into a car and ride, I get into a car and actively drive. I can't remember the last time I was a passenger in the car, though.

I do have that skid without a cage, and I have not rolled it once. I'm aware of my surroundings, not just what's in front of me.

Accidents happen, sometimes. And on occasion, they're unavoidable even with the best awareness. But more often than not, they happen because of negligence, people not paying attention to what they're doing or where they're going. Even without distractions like phones and radio, people just get behind the wheel and only pay attention to what's in front of them, and get into the zone, and that's it.

People, all to often, are passengers in life, and in cars, even while driving. They are simply not paying attention to their surroundings. And it's a real issue.

So we’re mostly on the same page that other drivers suck. Maybe you’re an expert at avoiding accidents but people die in collisions that they weren’t at fault in every day. A self driving car could beat those odds. I’m not that afraid of rolling my skid steer but I was loading stumps on my dump truck and one fell off and rolled into the front of my skid steer. Another time I was on a clearing job and broke a dead top out of a tree and it landed on my excavator cab. Just because you’ve done something dangerous and didn’t get hurt doesn’t mean it’s safe. The indisputable fact is FOPS save life’s.

 

[MikeFarm]

How do you know it was in self driving mode?
personally, id never step foot in a self driving car.

He's right. Don't assume it was in self driving mode. Could be just people not familiar with the road and not paying attention to what is behind them.
I'm also sceptical of current self driving tech on country roads but I have driven Teslas and I do like their ability to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front as it slows down or speeds up.

 

[DIYOrangeDave]

The same was said about auto pilot on airplanes. Try flying those bad boys now with our it, lol!

 

[lman]

I was on a 4 lane highway yesterday and proceeded to pass some vehicles. I approached a Tesla that was also passing vehicles. I noticed that the Tesla was driving a set speed in the center of the lane and suspected that it was self driving. After it passed the vehicle, the Tesla did not move from the passing lane to the driving lane. I stayed behind it for a while, anticipating that it would eventually move from the passing lane to the driving lane as required by law here. I then realized that the driver was probably half asleep and it would require some effort by him to move into the proper lane. I then moved to the right lane and passed him. I noticed that the Tesla never moved out of the passing lane for about 10 miles. I suppose he may have done the same thing without self driving or maybe he would have been engaged enough to drive in a safe manner.

 

[Moxie 15]

People die in car crashes all the time, but they're stupid people driving stupidly. I'm a skilled driver paying attention, and do not get into accidents.

That may be so but skilled, aware drivers get hurt or killed on the road every day.
I lived in Hillsborough County Florida for 24 years and my vehicle was hit 17 times, all but three times I was at a legal stop. None was my fault. Two of which I ended up in an ambulance, one with a broken vertebrae. The doctor told me the only reason I was still able to walk was it broke vertically not horizontally.

Skill and awareness have little to do with not getting in an accident when another driver screws up. Even the most skilled driver makes mistakes and if at the wrong time or a part is not 100% an accident happens.

If one doubts this then talk with Arten Senna, Don Garlits, Neil Bonnet, or Mario Andretti, all exeptionally skilled and aware drivers who were severly injured or killed in accidents.

 

[oosik]

If it's your time - self driving will probably not save you. Besides - there are many accidents that have no bearing on the injured driver or his vehicle.

JMHO - self driving has a long way to go or will be fit for very limited circumstances.

 

[Jstpssng]

Driving the speed limit causes road rage? A lot of people drive just the way that the OP describes, even without the self driving mode.
I have to admit that it's annoying, especially since they speed up every time you can pass them. Yet road rage is caused by impatient drivers, who feel they are the only people who deserve to be on the road.

I have two dents in the side of my pickup, where somebody punched it because I blew the horn at them. I left them there to remind me to calm down.

 

[MikeFarm]

Hi

Level 4 or 5 autonomous driving will be around in our lifetime and legal in certain limited and predictable environments. It may not be able to react appropriately to a moose or a kangaroo jumping out at you going at 100 km/h in the country but imagine in your local area, your old and you no longer have a driving license. That car will be able to get you safely to the shopping centre or the doctors and back home.

Tesla is pushing the limits a bit in its advertising of its cars autonomy. If you read the fine print it still requires the driver in the seat with hands regularly on the wheel and ready to take over in moment. That's rather difficult to expect of most drivers.

Mike

 

[Oaktree]

JMHO - self driving has a long way to go or will be fit for very limited circumstances.

I'm not sure why anyone would even want a self-driving car. Then again, I enjoy driving. Even if it happens, it'll probably not be in my lifetime, which is fine by me.

 

[bnold]

Drivers not paying attention when putting their car in 'self driving mode' will get their drivers killed.

This.


Love the autopilot feature for the long commute and I’m also a big fan of driving. The control isn’t perfect, but is very very good on large highways. Car is capable of watching 360 degrees around the car simultaneously, I’m limited to these 2 eyes.

I’m still responsible for the cars actions and to actively intervene as necessary.

Looking forward to how this technology advances in the next 10 years. Full autonomy is within reach for larger roads. City streets and county roads will take a lot longer.


Things the autopilot doesn’t do well.
- flashing lights which it perceives as emergency vehicles and slows to a degree.
- folks (semis and others) that come over the line into my lane. The cars reaction is generally to slow. My control weighs more options… speed up, ignore as the encroachment isn’t threatening, etc…
- large blind hills, car can’t see over them any better than I can. When I’m driving, sometimes a blind trust someone isn’t stopped on the other side while I’m traveling 75… car is more cautious
- city driving, off highway
- roads without good lane markers
- cameras getting fouled with dirt/mud/rain from dirt roads, generally not a problem. Car will tell you if it is uncomfortable with its visibility and not engage autopilot.
- in the city, I wish it was more aggressive. Especially in slower traffic/congestion.

 

[Cycledude]

Driving home from the hospital today, long mountain road. Driving behind a tesla. 40mph speed limit, did 35-40mph. Then it dropped to 35mph, and we were doing 30-35mph. Then it dropped to 25, and we were doing 20-25mph.

Then it went to 35, and we were doing 30-35. I was stuck behind him for miles, on a road that normally is very pleasant to drive 45-60. Nice, long, flowing bends and hills with wonderful scenery. And I was staring at the ass end of a pos tesla in self driving mode.

This is how self driving cars will cause road rage, and get their drivers killed.

I was holding out hope that it was just some old people driving, but then it came to a gradual, but complete stop, like it was stopping at a stop sign, when it saw this. It got confused. It was in the up position, for the record.

Sounds about like the vehicle I followed yesterday for about 15 miles but it definitely wasn’t a self driving vehicle ! Mostly was traveling 40 mph on a 55 mph road, but every time we got to a decent passing area it would speed up to about 53 mph. Several vehicles passed in no passing areas. I deal with this type of thing around here a lot .