file photo Boyd Loving
Study: Self-Driving Cars Would Eliminate Majority Of Traffic Deaths, Congestion
October 23, 2013 12:02 PM
WASHINGTON — In some ways, computers make ideal drivers: They don’t drink and then climb behind the wheel. They don’t do drugs, get distracted, fall asleep, run red lights or tailgate. And their reaction times are quicker.
They do such a good job, in fact, that a new study says self-driving cars and trucks hold the potential to transform driving by eliminating the majority of traffic deaths, significantly reducing congestion and providing tens of billions of dollars in economic benefits.
But significant hurdles to widespread use of self-driving cars remain, the most important of which is likely to be cost. Added sensors, software, engineering and power and computing requirements currently tally over $100,000 per vehicle, clearly unaffordable for most people, the study said. But large-scale production “promises greater affordability over time,” it concluded.
Why have a car?
THanks for the laugh. Self driving cars….controlled by those ‘reliable’ computers? What happens when the computer needs a ‘reboot’, or ‘crashes’, or ‘freezes’? I’m sure some ‘academic’ type figured this would solve all our problems.
Just what we need. Another device sending reams of privacy data back to its base for the NSA to grab.
the important parts of any car built after about 1990 are all run by computers anyway. They seem to work fine. And with GPS systems, phones and EZPass there are hardly additional privacy concerns.
This technology will be an amazing advance for mankind.
Just think about there is all that inexplicable traffic on highways when people slow down to read a sign or to rubberneck a police car that is on the other side of the highway. Or just for no reason at all.
If cars drive themselves they would maintain a steady speed and could drive much closer to each other. We would fit more cars on the roads. The cars could even communicate with each other so exactly 1/2 the people go to the Bridge and half to the tunnel each hour to minimize traffic.
We could eliminate drunk driving dangers letting us return to a society that freely enjoys wine with dinner or evenings in bars. When traveling long distances with kids you could play, talk, read and engage. For commutes you could safely talk on the phone or even do work while in transit.
I have been following this for a few years now and cant wait for these cars! Bring them on.
Just leave it to the state of New Jersey. Even “IF” in the future these ‘self driving cars’ are ever built, the Peoples Republic of NJ, run by the Dumbocrats, would still find a way to charge the driver, who is now a passenger, with DWI. They need the money for their social programs in Newark, Paterson and Camden.