Will We Get Driver Less Cars Before Driver Less Tube Trains?

[youngmafbog]

http://news.sky.com/story/1425190/driverless-car-trials-begin-across-britain


Seriously though, What are AB'ers views on driver less cars?


I am convinced of the idea - yet.

[Zacs-Master]

Eddie, if you've time..............
http://www.enotrans.org/wp-content/uploads/wpsc/downloadables/AV-paper.pdf

[jim360]

Currently driverless cars do currently struggle in rain and snow, or at busy junctions, although in the later case it's not so much a struggle as just the car drives safer than was strictly necessary.

But then again, so do humans. And the problems computer-controlled cars have can be seen as fixable bugs. In the long run, there will be no competition in terms of which is better at driving cars and responding to the unexpected.

[Canary42]

The straight answer to the OP's question is NO. We already have driverless trains on the DLR which in some places is "Tube".

[Baldric]

From Zacs link,
'The voice of Experience'

///Ironically, he never drove a car during his lifetime. The Father of Traffic Safety, an avid horseback rider,
distrusted automobiles.///

[Zacs-Master]

Lets not kid ourselves (not driverless tube trains, obviously). It WILL happen. there have been extensive trials on public roads.

[EDDIE51]

^^ Thanks, interesting but I can never imagine all the states of the USA agreeing with each other to the extent that would be necessary.
I think we will have this long before the USA.

[Canary42]

We got rid of the man walking in front, it's inevitable the driver will be next to go.

[Hymie]

Everyone talking on this subject concentrates on driver-less cars, but the technology will be easily transferred to heavy goods vehicles. So rather than consider people not having to learn to drive to get to work or wherever; truck drivers will soon be out of a job.

Imagine the savings logistics companies could make with no wages for HGV drivers, and vehicles able to operate 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

[Hopkirk]

God forbid!

[ToraToraTora]

we will never have driverless cars, not for technical reasons but legal/insurance reasons.

[Old_Geezer]

"they will be limited to private roads and show / exhibition grounds / race tracks." One might think this could be the case Eddie, but pushbikes are still allowed on the road (and of course the pavement apparently).

[Hymie]

Why do you think that - when the control of vehicles is taken out of the hands of humans - accident rates will fall dramatically.

In the future, those opting to have control of their vehicle will pay a high insurance premium for the privilege.

[Hopkirk]

Apparently for aeroplanes the flight deck crew of the future is one pilot and one dog.


The pilot is there to feed the dog.


The dog is there to bite the pilot if he touches the controls.

[ToraToraTora]

hymie, as soon as a driverless car has a crash, the lawyers will be on it and it'll be game over. Driverless may well be safer but as soon as one does hit something, and it will, who's fault will it be? Then the whole criminal system for "in charge" of a vehicle will go ot of the window. So now I can get plastered and get my car drive me home with no problem and my insurance will be cheaper you say! wonderful! think it through!

[marval]

I am not sure if I would be totally confident in a driverless car. They are going to trial them here in Milton Keynes soon.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/uk-lead-autonomous-vehicle-development-new-trials-launch

[Hymie]

It would be easy to organise a no fault insurance system – whereby everyone pays 10% (or less) of their current insurance premium, which pays out to those unfortunate enough to be injured as a result of a driver-less vehicle incident.

[Hopkirk]

If it happens I'll eat my car.

[pixie373]

I agree, ttt. I don't think I've ever seen anything technical be 100% reliable (I know humans aren't either). Who is responsible then?

[ToraToraTora]

exactly pixie, the only way this can work is if private cars are abolished and you get into some sort of public transport pod as in the sci fi arena. Ain't gonna happen.

[Hymie]

Well Hopkirk - I'm pretty sure you'll be eating your car by 2025 - and possibly sooner.