There are several companies that are working on self-drive cars, but Volvo expects to offer the first version to the market in 2016. In road tests it seems to work well, but the adverts suggest that you can get work done while the car takes care of everything else. It is elective. You can choose to let the car drive itself, or you can take it off autopilot and drive as normal.
I think I would have to be very sure of the technology, and I don't think I can get to that place without feeling highly stressed. I have enough problems now when I am firmly in control. I am trying to imagine myself simply sitting behind the wheel intently watching the road ahead and hoping the car will act promptly when the car ahead applies its brakes. Every passenger thinks the driver is crazy. We sit in our little passenger seat pressing down on the floor to apply the virtual brakes, everytime we think the driver should be doing the same, so this will be an increase in the stress.
There is another thing that causes me concern. I think this technology has out-paced the law that demands that drivers conduct themselves with due care and attention. Simply driving with only one hand on the wheel is cause for a fine. Volvo is suggesting you need have no hands on the wheel, and neither is it necessary to pay attention to what the car is doing. Sorry guys, this just does not compute.
There appears also to be at least one flaw: apparently the car does not recognize red lights, and presumably green lights as well. If that is the case we can't do away with the driver just yet. The best that can be said is that this would be a wonderful element to the Volvo driving experience, but we might have to save it for demonstration purposes only, to be shown off-road.
Still, it is a giant step in the right direction because I will welcome the day when we get rid of the drunk driver; the stupid driver; the boy-racer; the overly tired driver; and the simply incompetant driver, among others. People who fall under these headings are responsible for more deaths on the road than anything else combined.
In other words, cars, bikes, trucks, buses are wonderful ways to get around. It's a shame about the people who control them.
Copyright (c) 2015 Eugene Carmichael
