[Pyuvjzwf]

I don't disagree, but I think you have a better outlook on humanity than I do. Most people I come in contact with in public have a hard time breathing and walking at the same time.

No, in fact I have a fairly low outlook of most people until they prove otherwise.

I'm simply comfortable with people "sinking or swimming" based on their own abilities, it doesn't bother me if someone is a terrible driver and thus does not get to drive.

They can either get better, whine about it, or find an alternate means of travel.

When I had no car recently, I still found a way to get to my job.

[anatmob]

The first thing they'll do is replace HGV drivers, profit will be boosted by unmanned HGV and as long as the safety record is good there won't be much of an outcry among the general public.

[Taunteefrurge]

So, if we are no longer driving, who then is responsible for car insurance? Would I be responsible if the car runs someone over? Crashes in to another vehicle?

[dosugxxx]

So, if we are no longer driving, who then is responsible for car insurance? Would I be responsible if the car runs someone over? Crashes in to another vehicle?

Hrmm... that's getting into some interesting legal territory right there.

[fenter1]

So, if we are no longer driving, who then is responsible for car insurance? Would I be responsible if the car runs someone over? Crashes in to another vehicle?

I'm sure we'll find someone to sue. If there's one thing Americans know how to do it's to sue people. And of course I'm sure someone will sue Google for patent infringement over it as well. Probably because one of the buttons on their UI looks too much like one of Apple's buttons.

[Dogxzysl]

I had to take tests, take driving tests, parallel park, etc. Got a 92 on the driving part (not bragging, had to get above 90 for parents to let me use their car). Nowadays, all it seems you have to do pre-18 is take drivers education... no tests driving or written. And we wonder why kids don't listen about texting and driving.

[whatisthebluepill]

Roads are pretty dangerous, I think in the future people will amazed we ever allowed the general public to drive around at 70+mph. I quite like the idea of not having worry about some ****tard running into me (happened twice already) and might not be so lucky to get away with it mostly injury free next time.

[marcusdexz]

The first thing they'll do is replace HGV drivers, profit will be boosted by unmanned HGV and as long as the safety record is good there won't be much of an outcry among the general public.

You're right. No paying for a driver and no need for rest stops. The thing is if there's going to be a crash due to a malfunction or poor software then an 18 wheeler juggernaut is going to have the mother of all crashes

[TerAlelmlor]

It will probably be like Minority Report, freeways, perimeters, interstate highways and possibly most highways in and around cities will become completely automated, while still allowing you to switch to manual in side streets, smaller cities, and rural areas. Switching to manual on a freeway system will be illegal except in emergency situations, where the vehicle will then move to the side of the road immediately.

Rush hour could be a thing of the past if a computer coordinates traffic flow. That in itself could also take another 30-50 years.

[Galinastva]

Having seen just how easy it is to get a license here I say it should be much harder. Should be an emergency driving as part of the test too (wet skid pad, night driving....)

I once let my license lapse it was 2 years expired (my bad time flies). In order to get a new license I needed to retake the written and driving tests. I didn't study purposefully. If I can't pass the rules of the road test without any study then I don't deserve a license. I got a 100% on the written, and a "pass" on the driven. He never actually gave the score. Which was stupid. Then again I obeyed all traffic laws so a pass it is then I guess.

There was a guy next to me in the written. He had failed the test 2 times previously. I hope he didn't get his license.

[RooxiaNof]

Having seen just how easy it is to get a license here I say it should be much harder.

In Australia we have 3 licenses you must acquire before obtaining your full open license.

First license is your learners license (yellow L plates on car). You must hold it for 12 months minimum and you must log (in supplied log book) 120 hours of driving (with at least 20 hours of night driving). This MUST be with a fully licensed driver or paid professional instructor. Your limited to 80km/h speed limit and 0.00BAC.

Once you have logged your hours 120 hours, held license for 12 months and ticked off all completed skill (reverse parking, proper use of braking, hill starts etc) than you can sit for the drivers test. If you fail you have to book in for another test, pay again and continue until you pass.

If you pass you move onto your Provisional 1 license. You can finally drive by yourself however you have restrictions. You must wear red P plates on your car to tell everyone plus cops what license you hold. Must hold this license for minimal 12 months and restricted to 0.00BAC and 90km/h speed limit. Between 11pm to I think 5am you can only have ONE passenger in the car. You are also NOT allowed to drive high powered cars like V8's or Turbo vehicles.

Once that is done you sit for a computer test. Fail have to book in again. Pass you move onto your next license.

Next license is Provisional 2 license. You must wear green P plates on your car to tell everyone plus cops what license you hold. You must hold your license for 24 months minimum. Your limited to 0.00BAC and 100km/h speed limit. You cannot drive high performance vehicles like V8's or turbo vehicles.

Do another computer test

Hooray you move onto your full open license with no restrictions. It only takes 4 years to obtain.

Keep in mind if you lose your license while on Provisionals you must start it from the beginning of that license. The cops also LOVE picking on provisional drivers.

[Krruqgwt]

I cannot see this tech working properly for many years. The amount of time my GPS get's my position wrong by 20 feet is scary if it was in charge.

[NerbuitW]

Might not be that bad a thing down here...

Some of the drivers down here have to be the worst in the Western world, tailgating, not indicating, running red lights and stop signs, dangerous overtaking, etc, etc - and these are the licenced drivers... Many haven't bothered trying to get a licence, some asian drivers have bought their licences overseas (Police can't read most asian languages and will let the drivers' off normally) and the drunk/disqualified drivers. Then there's the appaulling standards of many of the vehicles - we have a 6 monthly Warrant of Fitness (vehicle inspection) and the drivers who get one will generally leave any repairs until it's due - then there are those who just don't bother and, as the penalties are quite light, it's probably cost effective even if they did get caught!
The failure rate for heavy vehicles was so high that they had to introduce new penalties where companies that have a higher failure rate have higher levies applied to them.

Recently, they've actually realised that the best way to ensure safer roads is to train the drivers better and they now have a much more stringent testing proceedure, with more testing and steps between each stage, rather than a single test for the full licence.

When i got my car licence, many years ago, it was 10 oral questions on the Highway Code (NZ road rules), 25 written questions and a 10 minute drive.
Later I got a heavy vehicle, heavy trailer, special type vehicle (wheels and rollers) through work which required a doctor's cert', another oral test for each type and I had to drive the truck, with trailer, around the block - first time I'd had a trailer behind a truck and second time I'd been on the open road (had been moving them around the yard when working on them, though) and the special type was a Ditch Witch cable layer ballasted up to 2 1/2 tons. Obviously I passed and, due to a clerical mistake by the testing officer, I also picked up a light self laying tracks.
next was a motorcycle licence, I'd had several provisional (paper and oral test) and as I had a girlfriend with a m'cycle I borrowed that to get the practical done - this was a 10 minute ride being followed by a testing officer.
Quite some time later, they changed the classifications, so I effectively picked up a little more*.
Even the National Race Licence was a simple written and oral test with a couple of observations of my ability on the race track (basically that I didn't crash or do anything silly) - that was also many years back and I think it's a little more stringent now.

Recently, they've actually realised that the best way to ensure safer roads is to train the drivers better and get the bad drivers off the roads so they now have a much more stringent testing proceedure, with more testing and steps between each stage, rather than a single test for the full licence.



*1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, F, R, T and W
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/fa...e-classes.html

[andreas]

I cannot see this tech working properly for many years. The amount of time my GPS get's my position wrong by 20 feet is scary if it was in charge.

It's already working properly. Google have been running a test car on public roads for some time now, with no incidents.

[Amoniustauns]

It's already working properly. Google have been running a test car on public roads for some time now, with no incidents.

Yep. It's more radars and lasers than GPS, the GPS just gives it directions like "take the next right" and "Taco Bell is over here".

[Japakefrope]

No, in fact I have a fairly low outlook of most people until they prove otherwise.

I'm simply comfortable with people "sinking or swimming" based on their own abilities, it doesn't bother me if someone is a terrible driver and thus does not get to drive.

They can either get better, whine about it, or find an alternate means of travel.

When I had no car recently, I still found a way to get to my job.

In an economic downturn, the last thing that will happen is to put LESS people on the road. Think about it. The police and local government make a hell of a lot more money writing tickets, issuing DUI's, and enforcing fines with idiots on the road.

[Oswczrdz]

Oh man, with a Google car, I could go anywhere I wanted while drunk out of my mind!

[Moupponge]

What's amazing is the thought of loading an automated truck up at a depot or factory, releasing it off into the wild and a few hours later it turns up at it's destination hundreds of miles away.

In 20 years or so imagine how many people will be out of a job because of it. Haulage drivers, taxi drivers, bus drivers and countless other service industry drivers.

[mincbiori]

What's amazing is the thought of loading an automated truck up at a depot or factory, releasing it off into the wild and a few hours later it turns up at it's destination hundreds of miles away.

In 20 years or so imagine how many people will be out of a job because of it. Haulage drivers, taxi drivers, bus drivers and countless other service industry drivers.

You'll always need an employee on board with public transport, and someone that's trained to be able to take control when things go wrong. Even the DLR in London, which is completely computer controlled, always has a member of staff on board, who can take control and even drive the train if there is a problem.

[Sanremogirl]

Just switch to manual mode!

Now I want to watch I, Robot on BD.