‘The Medical Case for Self-Driving Cars’

[VDCdriver]

@MikeInNH

The real problem is that Waymo may be jumping the gun and putting them in public too early.

+1
On the TV news this morning, I heard that the Waymo vehicles don’t have a steering wheel or pedals, so it is very difficult–or impossible–for their employees to move them when they get themselves into weird, stationary situations.

[MikeInNH]

@VDCdriver

On the TV news this morning, I heard that the Waymo vehicles don’t have a steering wheel or pedals, so it is very difficult–or impossible–for their employees to move them when they get themselves into weird, stationary situations.

From my understanding the ones on the road do have user controls like steering wheel and gas/brake pedals. The ones without steering wheels are being tested and not allowed on streets. Maybe some of the newer models have already reached the street.

[davesmopar]

@MikeInNH

There has to be other ways to Beta test in real world situations without endangering the public.

I would think that using some of the hundreds of U.S. military bases that have closed down (from my limited knowledge) would be great places for these test…

[TwinTurbo]

@MikeInNH

Beta testing software won’t get you killed

I don’t know, I’ve seen some pretty enraged Microsoft users over the years…

[ChrisTheTireWhisperer]

The Waymo vehicles in this ABC News report:

Massive Waymo recall after close calls between robotaxis and school buses

Have normal driver controls.

Even though that’s the case, I think driverless vehicles should always have a human presence, whether by law or by other mandate, and pedals and steering wheel, for them to intervene.

Whether that’s a paid driver, in the case of a ride service, or Mom or Dad for family trips with the autonomous car. This is the big old real world out there, not the WedWay People Mover, on a closed loop at Disney World: trains happen, school buses happen, unannounced lane changes suddenly happen, deer happen…!

Also, toward the middle of that ABC report, a back seat passenger ‘could not exit the car’ while the Waymo was in a hazardous location?

Man I’m lovin’ the past even more by the millisecond…!

[TheWonderful90s]

@ChrisTheTireWhisperer

, a back seat passenger ‘could not exit the car’ while the Waymo was in a hazardous location?

I remember taxis in England locking the doors when stopped and unlocking them when moving. Maybe it had something to do with forcing the customer to pay.

[ChrisTheTireWhisperer]

@TheWonderful90s

Maybe it had something to do with forcing the customer to pay.

Meanwhile there might have been a train approaching the location of the Waymo.

Which is more important in that situation?

[TheWonderful90s]

@ChrisTheTireWhisperer

Which is more important in that situation?

Avoiding legal liability and maximizing profits.

[jtsanders]

@TheWonderful90s

I remember taxis in England locking the doors when stopped and unlocking them when moving. Maybe it had something to do with forcing the customer to pay.

More likely it’s customer safety.

[davesmopar]

@ChrisTheTireWhisperer

I think driverless vehicles should always have a human presence,

NO, No, no, not needed, you are overthink this, you just need to have the AI’s life AI partner on the passenger side telling it how to drive, you know - Slow Down!, Turn here!, are you Trying to kill us?..

[jtsanders]

Or AI mother in law.