Would you want a self driving car?

[Savonarola]

This topic came up when I was talking with some people from AMTRAK.  Their fear is that our product will eliminate the need for conductors on trains.  In our case it won't; our product isn't designed to drive a train.  The Federal Rail Authority has made it clear that "Robo-trains" aren't likely to be approved to run on the public tracks.  Their argument is that a computer cannot replace an experienced conductor.  A conductor can recognize when something is out of place, while a computer can only recognize what it's been programmed to.

Given the nature of rail no one is lobbying to have self driving trains.  The first robo-train to crash would be a publicity nightmare.  People, though, are willing to accept a much greater risk when driving themselves than when riding on a train.  Given that, I'm curious if you would want a self driving car; assuming that they were within your budget and statistically no more dangerous than driving yourself.

[Valmy]

Yes! I hate driving. I will be so glad when my culture no longer requires people completely incompetent at driving, like me, to drive.

[MadBurgerMaker]

It would be nice to have the option, but not 100% of the time.   I like driving sometimes. 

[Eddie Teach]

It would be nice to have the option, but not 100% of the time.   I like driving sometimes.

Yeah.

[The Brain]

Their argument is that a computer cannot replace an experienced conductor.  A conductor can recognize when something is out of place, while a computer can only recognize what it's been programmed to.

wut

[Martinus]

I agree. A conductor can make or break a symphony.

As to the topic at hand, sure why not?

[derspiess]

No.  I'm too much of a control freak.  I don't even like automatic transmission if it can be avoided.

[Admiral Yi]

I can't see the downside to having the option.

[The Brain]

Won't it be like driving an automatic? Lots of comments from real men how you are a fucking sissy boy?

[CountDeMoney]

Depends.  Are the rest of the vehicles on the road self-driving as well? Makes a big difference to me. 

If there aren't, then fuck that;  I'm not going to sit helplessly in the equivalent of a bank drive-thru pneumatic tube cannister awaiting my fate while every goddamned bikini wax technician from the Philippines is running the Beltway slalom around me.  Christ, just go ahead and launch me into orbit already.

What a helpless nightmare.

[Martinus]

Yeah, I guess it depends on the collision algorithm. If it is going to prioritise some texting millennial over me when it comes to a crash, fuck that shit.

[alfred russel]

Basically no one will own a car when self driving cars arrive.

What is the main incremental expense for a taxi? It is the driver's time. That goes away in a self driving car. Cabs will become extremely cheap. People will just take uber everywhere.

[MadBurgerMaker]

Yeah, I guess it depends on the collision algorithm. If it is going to prioritise some texting millennial over me when it comes to a crash, fuck that shit.

I wonder if true self driving cars would even sell well if there was a chance it wouldn't prioritize the people inside vs. a pedestrian wandering into the road or something.  Who would buy a car that might intentionally kill them?

[alfred russel]

Sav, I wouldn't be so sure that self driving cars won't impact trains.

They could significantly reduce the demand for passenger rail travel, as uber like bus/van services could compete effectively.

They could also make trucking more efficient, as drivers are no longer needed.

[Richard Hakluyt]

At some stage I would imagine that human operated cars will become illegal except for hobbyists at designated private roads/tracks and so on. They are very dangerous and inefficient to boot.