Self driving cars… no thanks.

[Bmblbzzz]

I predict that if/when we get driverless cars, it'll be on the motorways first. If/when the accident rate is seen to be reduced, they will consider it for all roads, by which time there will be a load more practical experience as well as various technical improvements. In the meantime, I anticipate plenty of lively debate and not a little posturing etc.

Haulage industry would go for that - set up depots off private slipways, then use driverless trunking services, with regular distribution from these depots.

Somewhat like private rail sidings in days of yore.

[tim-b]

I predict that if/when we get driverless cars, it'll be on the motorways first. If/when the accident rate is seen to be reduced, they will consider it for all roads, by which time there will be a load more practical experience as well as various technical improvements. In the meantime, I anticipate plenty of lively debate and not a little posturing etc.

Haulage industry would go for that - set up depots off private slipways, then use driverless trunking services, with regular distribution from these depots.

That's an old concept, with "trains" of autonomous trucks for fuel saving, although there was a sole "train driver" back in 2016 https://www.newsweek.com/self-driving-l ... -uk-434013

Definition of a "platoon" (different to a convoy)
https://motortransport.co.uk/the-opport ... 44.article

PS, the project died here because none of the manufacturers expressed an interest, but a connected 2000km journey was successfully undertaken between Sweden and the Netherlands in 2016

[Pebble]

I predict that if/when we get driverless cars, it'll be on the motorways first. If/when the accident rate is seen to be reduced, they will consider it for all roads, by which time there will be a load more practical experience as well as various technical improvements. In the meantime, I anticipate plenty of lively debate and not a little posturing etc.

Haulage industry would go for that - set up depots off private slipways, then use driverless trunking services, with regular distribution from these depots.

That's an old concept, with "trains" of autonomous trucks for fuel saving, although there was a sole "train driver" back in 2016 https://www.newsweek.com/self-driving-l ... -uk-434013

Definition of a "platoon" (different to a convoy)
https://motortransport.co.uk/the-opport ... 44.article

PS, the project died here because none of the manufacturers expressed an interest, but a connected 2000km journey was successfully undertaken between Sweden and the Netherlands in 2016

I was thinking of something quite different to that - In the haulage industry there is something known as 'trunking operations' depots usually very close to motorways and 4 hours from another depot also just off a motorway, a lot of stuff gets moved about like that (4 hours apart so a driver can get there, have his break then get back home)
Driverless trucks wouldn't be limited to the 4 hour stages, and since nearly all the driving is on the motorwray, probably safer too.

In a well organised country ran by intelligent peopled all these trunking operations would be on the rail - but we're a million mile from anything like that

[cycle tramp]

Hang about. If we are not to be divisive about various groups why can we be unpleasant about Musk? Got to be consistent. Oh yeah, I assume that the person objecting to him knows him otherwise how can this be objective..

Well, we could do that, but as a 'free speech absolutionalist'... doing so would run against his beliefs. After all here is a person (or for those who read H P Lovecraft a descendant of a deep one) who respects the right for anyone to say anything, even if it incites crime or isn't true.
Here is a person who falsely accused one of the British cave divers who rescued the school children from a deep flooded cave system of bring a pedophile, attempted to over turn the results of the last British election, supports the violent far right in the UK and reposts their poisonous lies, and fails to rename tesla 'auto control feature' as 'assistance control' which have resulted in the death of a number of US motorcyclists in situations where they have been stopped wiring in traffic and the tesla has simply run them over....
.....to compound these actions, here is a person who believes that they are far cleverer than the average person...because one would hope that if that was the case he would e in a petter position to see the outcomes of his actions... but apparently not. Its not a case of knowing him, but cataloguing the history of his actions..
'By his actions you shall know the man'.. I believe is the quote..

[Pete Owens]

Coming to London next year:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwynm4wl1j7o

[axel_knutt]

Coming to London next year:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwynm4wl1j7o

"No difference in fare"

[tim-b]

Coming to London next year:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwynm4wl1j7o

More single-occupant vehicles amongst the most comprehensive public transport system in the UK.

It makes absolute sense

[Pete Owens]

It seems to have escaped your notice that taxis have been operating in London for a very long time - and unless you imagine you could gain the political support to ban then they will continue to operate - as will the buses you would prefer people to use.

All that is being discussed here is whether those taxis and buses are controlled by humans or by computers.
From next year in London there will not be more taxis, but fewer Uber drivers - and as a result, fewer squashed cyclists.

[Bmblbzzz]

Taxis have a legitimate place in any public transport system. They meet an occasional need eg for transporting heavy shopping which would be difficult to manage (and awkward for other passengers) on a bus, or from remote locations late at night, or for some people with particular disabilities.

[irc]

Taxis have a legitimate place in any public transport system. They meet an occasional need eg for transporting heavy shopping which would be difficult to manage (and awkward for other passengers) on a bus, or from remote locations late at night, or for some people with particular disabilities.

And for the wealthy who don't want the inconvenience of the bus, train, or tube. .

[Bmblbzzz]

There are many things which are made commercially viable by wealthy individuals or corporate use but thereby exist to benefit other users too. One example which springs to mind is speech-to-text apps, which weren't really developed (or at least brought to market) with the deaf in mind, but they do benefit.

[pjclinch]

Coming to London next year:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwynm4wl1j7o

With folks in one of the companies involved saying London may be a problem as “It has seven times more jaywalkers than San Francisco”, so we're dealing with people who don't actually understand that jaywalking isn't A Thing in the UK .

Adam Tranter covers some of the issues at https://bsky.app/profile/adamtranter.bs ... astfhtpc2i

It comes back to a common keenness in governments of all hues to be very excited about whizzy tech while not thinking through that it needs to be our servant, not our master. Apply that to cars, where governments of all hues are already in thrall to cars everywhere for everything and any naysaying is construed by eejits as a "war on motorists", and it goes from bad to worse.

Pete.

[Bmblbzzz]

I don't think jaywalking is a A Thing in California nowadays either. But people crossing roads in places not specifically marked for such might be "seven times more" common in London than SF (how do you actually measure it?).

[Bmblbzzz]

Coming to London next year:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwynm4wl1j7o

"No difference in fare"

But no driver to pay. Yes, there are higher* up-front costs to recover, but profit not road safety is the motive.

*As opposed to nothing for a human-driven taxi, as drivers are usually expected to supply their own vehicle.

[pjclinch]

I don't think jaywalking is a A Thing in California nowadays either.

The issue isn't so much the legal technicalities as the prevalent attitudes of those involved. If your Silicon Valley auto-taxi chap thinks in terms of "jaywalkers" then that's a problem if they're involved in setting up in a place with a very different road culture.

Pete.