For now, it seems like a novelty - cars that can operate independently of human control, safely cruising down streets thanks to an array of sensors and pinpoint GPS navigation.
But if the technology avoids getting crushed by government regulators and product liability lawsuits, writes the Federalist's Dan McLaughlin, it could prompt a cultural shift similar to the early 20th century move away from horses as the primary means of transportation.
First and foremost, he writes, the spread of driverless cars will likely greatly reduce the number of traffic accidents - which currently cost Americans $871b (£510b) a year.
"A truly driverless road would not be accident-free, given the number of accidents that would still be caused by mechanical and computer errors, weather conditions, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists and sheer random chance," he says. "But it would make the now-routine loss of life and limb on the roads far rarer."
Computer-operated cars would eventually reshape car design, he says, as things like windshields - "a large and vulnerable piece of glass" - become less necessary. Drivers will be able to sit wherever they'd like in their cars, which could make car interiors more like mobile lounges than like cockpits.
The age required to operate a driverless car is likely to drop, he says. There could be an impact on the legal drinking age, as well, as preventing drunk driving was one of the prime justifications for the US-wide setting minimum age to purchase alcohol at 21 years old.
There's other possible economic fallout, McLaughlin contends, such as a restructuring of the auto insurance industry, the obsolescence of taxi drivers and lower ratings for drive-time radio programmes.
The high-tech security state will also get boost, he writes, as GPS-tagged cars will be easier to track, making life difficult for fugitives and car thieves. Police will also be able to move resources away from operations like traffic enforcement.
Of course, he writes, the towns that rely on speed traps to fund their government services will be facing budget shortfalls. Privacy advocates could also get an unexpected boost, he notes, since traffic stops are one of the main justifications for police vehicle searches.
Finally, there's the prospect of the as-yet-unrealised futurist dream of flying cars. With computer-controlled vehicles that strictly follow traffic rules, McLaughlin says, "the potential for three-dimensional roads becomes a lot less scary and more a matter of simply solving the technological challenge".
Where we're going, we may not need roads after all. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Buehler445:
The tech is there. Has been for awhile.
The big thing in tractors is that the lawyers won't let a machine run unattended.
I assume that's the way it is with cars also. There's no one to sue if the car crashes itself.
Yeah, the regulatory side of it will be the thing that slows it down. Even if they prove that it's 100x safer than having human drivers, people will still be freaked out by having a machine in control like that. And then the issue of liability will get to be really complicated given where we'd be starting from. The entire insurance industry would have to be re-invented in a different form. [Reply]
I cound use this technology. I have a four + hour road trip planned for our family vacation this Thursdee. I'd rather poop and sleep than drive. Although, I'm wary of the potential malfunctions. [Reply]
I owned a Toyota Avalon that had radar proximity cruise control, it was unbelievable. I could set the speed and it would slow down and speed up to keep the speed I set or the car length I picked behind traffic. Truly remarkable tech, and it felt impossible to wreck into the back of someone, it would stop the car like an impenetrable cushion of air in front of you.
This technology is light years beyond that, it's already a reality, just have to fight through lobbyist and bureaucratic bs. [Reply]
Another really cool thing is that it could replace day care. When you go to work, you just put your kid in the car, turn the air conditioning on, and have the baby take a nice long drive in the country, returning at 5:00. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Rain Man:
Another really cool thing is that it could replace day care. When you go to work, you just put your kid in the car, turn the air conditioning on, and have the baby take a nice long drive in the country, returning at 5:00.
I wonder how they'd go about "phasing out" old fashioned cars that need drivers. For awhile at least you'd have both kinds, and eventually I'd guess it would become illegal to own a "drivered car".
I'd probably be one of the asshole holdouts... [Reply]
Once they get it perfected, you know what will happen next. They'll start selling different models of cars:
The Baseline BMW X5 - "Gets you where you want to go. Top speed of 30 mph, and you'll always be courteous to other drivers as you remain within the right-hand lane."
The Classic BMW X5 - "With a top speed of over 60 mph, you'll arrive at your destination quickly and safely. The Classic BMW X5 will move to the left lane to pass any and all Baseline vehicles."
The Executive BMW X5 - "This premium model can go up to 90 mph, and will consistently shift lanes to pass slower vehicles. It will also run yellow lights and ooze through stop signs."
The Rich Jerk BMW X5 - "The RJ Model has a top speed of 150 mph. It tailgates, cuts off other drivers, and has an automated middle finger attachment to show your disdain for others. The RJ features built-in communication software that will override Baseline and Classic Vehicles and force them to pull over to the side of the road as you streak by. If you drive an RJ, you'll own the road." [Reply]
