Nevada Approves Rules For Self-Driving Cars 307
Griller_GT writes with news that Nevada has become the first U.S. state to approve regulations for allowing self-driving cars on its roads.
"Autonomous test vehicles will display a red license plate, Nevada officials said. If and when the technology is approved for public use, the cars will carry a green license plate. ... Nevada said it worked with Google, automobile manufacturers, testing professionals, insurance companies, universities and law enforcement to develop the regulations. Other states also have similar bills that will be voted upon to determine if they, too, can follow suit."
How well do they handle dangerous situations? (Score:5, Interesting)
I've seen lots of video of them under ideal scenarios.
Let's get some crash video! :)
Hydroplaning, black ice, big potholes, road debris, silver-hairs stomping on the brakes, et cetera.
Should be entertaining, if disconcerting, to say the least.
Re:How well do they handle dangerous situations? (Score:5, Interesting)
Here's an ideal scenario: Get all the manual idiots off the road, so the smart cars don't have to deal with them :)
Coloured license plates to ID drivers (Score:3, Interesting)
If coloured license plates could be used to ID drivers and their abilities, how about a system for allowing differing speeds based on:
1) Car type
2) Car condition
3) Driver experience
I think that most would agree that a 2012 model BMW driven by a professional racecar driver with 20 years' experience and no traffic infractions could be driven safely 20 KPH faster than a 1982 Peugeot with bald tires driven by a 18 year old who already has two infractions.
I did not invent this, I heard it proposed years ago. But I think that now with automated vehicles being distinguished from human drivers, that the time is ripe and the technology is here to implement it.
Colored License Plates Scream "Steal Me!" (Score:4, Interesting)
They're going to mandate driver-less cars have unique, identifiable license plates? Sounds like a "Steal Me!" badge.
Remember the problem Florida had about 10 years ago where rental cars with clearly-identifiable stickers (Enterprise "E")? The cards were driven mostly by out-of-country tourists. They were being jacked because the bad guys knew they couldn't defend themselves.
Driver-less cars are chock-a-block with experimental technology, all wrapped-up inside of a $15k - $40k vehicle...with no one to defend them.
What could go wrong?
At least until they get lasers.
Re:Coloured license plates to ID drivers (Score:2, Interesting)
Different coloured plates may be useful, but I disagree that different rules should apply.
I don't. I've had this idea for some time since I moved to Arizona and got to experience the joy/crap that is the HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lane. I suggest an Advanced Driver lane. You have to pass a test every year or every other year to get a plate for it but you can drive as fast as you want.
Why not put this energy into public transport? (Score:1, Interesting)
I fail to grasp why we aren't investing time and energy in a ramp-up of the abysmal public transport options in the US. Self driving cars are a wonderful idea, but in the end they are a stop gap for the actual problem: there are more cars than available road capacity, and this will continue to increase.
One could, and one would be wrong (Score:5, Interesting)
And before you start - long history of manual motorbikes and cars ranging from Triumph T100 to BMW, also long experience of automatics ranging from Kia to Merc, and now a Prius. I have also driven extensively in the US and Europe, on both sides of the road. My conclusion? For a given skill level, the auto is always safer because your attention is never distracted at a crucial moment. When you brake, you brake; no remembering the "clutch" or to "change down".
The ability of an architect isn't measured in terms of her/his ability to bake bricks.
Re:How well do they handle dangerous situations? (Score:4, Interesting)
By the way: there is a big difference between different clutches. I have an old Opel Astra (1997). The clutch is extremely "long" (it starts to disconnect almost immediately after you touch the pedal, and you have to floor it to disconnect completely. This is a distance of more than 10 cm (4 inches) ) There are many newer cars with "short" clutches (as in "at one angle the clutch starts to disconnect and a cm (half an inch) lower it's disconnected completely"). These are better for racing as they allow fast swiching. They are not comfortable however, as you need to be able to controll the angle of your foot to a greater degree to let it connect smoothly. Most differences between clutch controll can be laid at the feet of the clutch design.
Re:Hopefully the first of many (Score:5, Interesting)
I can't think of any disadvantages of driverless vehicles once the kinks are worked out. In fact, on the highway, with a grid system, cars can be packed far closer together because there isn't need to have the space needed for human reaction time. Coupled with a local/regional highway computer, vehicles can be shifted from lane to lane depending on their destination and mechanical ability.
Heck, even roads could be designed differently because roads wouldn't have to deal with drivers behind the wheel who have 2-3 too many bowls, and 4-6 too many Bud Lights. Four way intersections on expressways could be made because the local computer could time when to send a northbound car so it doesn't hit an eastbound car that is currently in the intersection, or slow down a southbound car so it hits the intersection right after two cars going on a cross street pass.
Of course, nothing is perfect, but there was a time when computers were thought of never being the king of the chessboard, and now are top dog. Self driving cars were laughed off previously, but as connectivity and technology matures, it might be the answer to US transportation issues, especially in sprawling regions where a bus/train/tram system would be impossible.
This also would provide ease of renting/reserving cars. If someone didn't want to own one, they could have one reserved to be sitting in front of their place when they needed to go to work.