When I was going to pick up my brother last night, my car made a mini doughnut on the street due to the enormous amount of ice on the roads. I'm sure most people in the area have been experiencing car difficulties since it seems like we might be having our second polar vortex in two years. This morning, I found an interesting article about the concept of self-driven cars. Sorry, what?
Recently, Audi released an experimental A7 Sedan equipped with piloted driving capabilities. They sent journalists to test out these self-driven cars by having them travel 550 miles, from Silicon Valley to Las Vegas. The process included a day of training before even getting in a car, resulting in the journalist's receiving their licenses for driving an autonomous vehicle. One journalist reflected on the experience saying it was "mundane, almost boring" in his reflection on the trip. He also remarked that if it didn't have the Audi Piloted Driving on the side of the car, one would never know that it in fact was that--people would think of it as just another car. The car drives smoothly, keeps you square in the lane, and speeds up when necessary; everything you would want your car to do if you were the one driving it. In order to gain control of the car again, all you have to do is grab the steering wheel or tap the brake. This seems great and all, but what's the point? Why do we need a car to drive itself, what's the benefit?
It turns out that Audi isn't the only car company discussing the possibility of making a self-driven car. Google started the trend, creating a car without a steering wheel even, and other companies are deciding whether or not to try and compete. It seems as though none of the companies, even Audi, necessarily want to produce a robot car, but none want to fall behind technologically to Google either. However, Toyota says they refuse to fall victim to this idea: "Toyota firmly says that computer technology exists to compensate for the driver's incompetence; not accommodate his desire to be doing something else". I think Toyota actually makes a good point here; if the reason for making this driverless car is to multitask, then I don't think it's safe or necessary.
Many driving injuries result from drivers not paying attention to what they're doing. Either they're talking on the phone, texting, applying makeup, or other simple tasks that they believe they can do while safely driving. The reality is, this leads to dangerous behavior. The point is, I don't see why we should endorse this. By making a car that is basically hands-free, it would cause drivers to be more careless on the roads, even if the technology is so good that they don't need to be physically steering. Drivers still need to be aware and alert while driving, or else there will be even more accidents than there are today. I don't know if this trend will become larger and more companies will start making driverless cars, but I don't think it would be a good idea.
In one of the Back to the Future movies, they said in 2015 there would be hover cars. Maybe the movie wasn't so off after all. What do you think? Should there be driverless cars on the roads?
I agree with you completely Sarah. I don't like the idea of a self-driven car. I agree that people should be alert on the roads. However, I also think that driving is a huge right of passage. It is so great when you turn 16, finally get your license and can drive yourself all around. If we had cars that could drive themselves, it would take the fun out of turning 16. Perhaps in the distant future a 5 year-old would be able to "drive" themselves to a friends house all on their own, with an automatic car. That also raises the issue of then losing quality time with parents driving you places if, when you're younger, you can just take out the car. It is incredible that technology is leading us to be able to create self-driven cars, but I will not be buying one.
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