Carnage Comming To A Road Near You!

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35737104
Convoys of driverless trucks! what could go wrong?

[Mamyalynne]

There was some discussion when this story was in the news in March, a bit scary really.


http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1478535.html

[ToraToraTora]

I just hope that not too many innocents have to die before they abandon this silliness.

[bhg481]

The M4 was closed near us for just about 24 hours last week because a lorry driver alledgedly fell asleep at the wheel. The lorry broke the central barrier and ended up completely blocking all three eastbound lanes and one westbound lane. Because of the M4 having to be completely closed and diversions the whole of Reading was gridlocked for almost the whole of the 24 hours.
Do computers fall asleep?

[RATTER15]

I don't have a problem with it, I'm sure they have been thoroughly tested and deemed to be safe. We will just have to wait and see how it all works out. I'm sure there will be problems though.

[237SJ]

There is still going to be a driver at the head of the convoy so yes, they can still fall asleep except that if they do, there won`t just be one lorry that crashes. As the person in that article says, trying to exit a motorway from the middle lane will be very difficult if you have a convoy of lorries in the outside lane. I have nearly missed my turning on the M25 before now because of a string of lorries nose to tail that I couldn`t get through. I think it`s a rubbish idea.

[ToraToraTora]

BHG: "Do computers fall asleep?" - yes, ever had your computer lock up? they are programmed by humans, ever seen a perfect one?

[ToraToraTora]

Let's see, 10 x 44 ton truck with one "driver". Assuming they get to near where they are going how are they going to navigate through smaller roads and towns etc?

[RATTER15]

I remember the hilarity when I heard that milk was going to be put in cardboard containers instead of glass and then cars getting plastic bumpers instead of metal :-)

[ToraToraTora]

what a ridiculous thing to say ratter! Milk isn't in 44 tone packages driving itself is it?

[stuey]

TTT, I don't think those trucks would be involved in any "local" deliveries. They would probably just deliver to large warehouses situated adjacent to your major highways.

[RATTER15]

I would imagine they would have many safety features, I think the designers would have though of all these things. I also imagine that these convoys will just exit the Motorway to assigned national hubs where they will then distribute their loads to conventional lorries for door to door delivery.

[ToraToraTora]

what about when the MW is closed and plod makes you leave at junction whatever? how do I join the MW when one of these is going past the slip road? how do I leave? what happens in road works? what happens when it catches another "convoy"? too many things that flawed humans take in their stride that you cannot program into a computer.

[Mamyalynne]

It's obvious their use will be limited, it wouldn't work on a motorway with exits close together or without any transports hubs at the end of the route to unload or transfer.

[bhg481]

There was an interesting documentary on TV recently (no date, we always record and watch later) about a multiple pile-up on the bridge from the Isle of Sheppey (2013, I think). Thick fog and vehicles piling into each other, mainly because they were going too fast for the conditions. Computers would not allow that.

[ToraToraTora]

that's all British motorways out then mamy.

[rockyracoon]

All I see are job losses.

[RATTER15]

I think it will work but will cause a few problems. Its called progress

[ToraToraTora]

it wont work, people will die, then they'll stop.

[ToraToraTora]

if they want to do bulk transport the system for that was invented in 1825, the railways, why mess about with this incredibly dangerous stupidity when they can use the rail network to deliver goods now. Many may call it "progress" I call it bloody minded pursuit of silliness when there is not even a problem to be solved.

[stuey]

It's too bad that a plan couldn't be devised which would restrict large trucks, either human or computer driven. to major highway usage to the hours of, say, 10pm and 4am.