Self driving cars?

Bigwheels1111

I have read some of the stories about self driving cars, makes me laugh out loud.
I would love a self driving car, and would feel safe as houses.
They say that in America in four month, 11 people were killed by automated tech vehicles.
In the time it took me to read the story ten times that have been killed by car drivers.
Self driving cars will kill less people.

Herzlos

At the risk of being unpopular, if you're only doing 3000 miles a year, then it may be cheaper and much less stressful to use taxis or public transport. Especially if you're travelling into cities.

A 3-hour trip to the seaside will cost a lot in a taxi, but I assume most coastal towns still have working train stations. Then you can put your feet up, relax, and don't need to worry about finding a parking space.

If you insist on a car, then it's probably better to just break the journey up a bit. A 3 hour drive is tedious for everyone, but 2 x 90 minute drives isn't so bad. If you're not in a rush then stop for lunch or a coffee or whatever.
Most newer cars will have things like lane departure prevention, forward collision detection, driver distraction detection and cruise control, but none of that is a replacement for driving feeling alert.

facade

Bigwheels1111 said:

I have read some of the stories about self driving cars, makes me laugh out loud.
I would love a self driving car, and would feel safe as houses.
They say that in America in four month, 11 people were killed by automated tech vehicles.
In the time it took me to read the story ten times that have been killed by car drivers.
Self driving cars will kill less people.

We can't reach that conclusion until there are equal numbers of self driving cars as normal ones, then driving the same number of miles in the same conditions.

It is like saying "only 15% of road deaths are caused by drunken drivers, therefore drinking makes you a safer driver" when there are far more sober drivers on the roads.

The technical difficulties in getting self driving cars to work in all weather & road conditions are immense.

Goudy

My car has some interesting features.
It has the collision mitigation system along with a pedestrian one.
It detects the road in front and first warns you (and preloads the ABS), then if you don't act, it will throw the brakes on for you.

It has active cruise control which matches the speed of the traffic in front up to the speed set by the driver.
You can also set the gap between you and the car in from.
Part of this is lane monitoring, where is "nudges" the steering wheel if you try and leave the lane without indicating.

Everyday without the cruise on you can turn on a distance sensor on it's own
It displays a simple "lane" of a road in front on the dash, it's green if your distance is enough or orange and red if it isn't and if you're close enough it will show an image of the car in front.

As an option was a Highway and Traffic Jam pack.
This increased some of the lane and cruise functions above so as long as it's switched on and there are lane markings to follow it will follow the road, actively steering for you.
You have to keep your hands on the steering wheel, but it will turn the steering wheel for you to follow the lane.

This pack is only on the automatic, so you can use it at nearly any speed as the active cruise will work down to a stop and restart back up to the set speed once the traffic starts moving again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dr_aJOdp-U

It's not full automation, but it does work really well and take's some of the sting out of long trips.
On an overnight trip to Scotland once I set it at the start of the M1 and didn't touch the pedals and hardly steered it until I needed to stop for fuel near Carlisle.

It does feel a bit trippy at first, but once you are used to it you start feeling worried when you turn it off!

Krakkkers

Mine has a peddle in the middle which when pressed helps me to slow down.

Car_54

Goudy said:

My car has some interesting features.
It has the collision mitigation system along with a pedestrian one.
It detects the road in front and first warns you (and preloads the ABS), then if you don't act, it will throw the brakes on for you.

What exactly does "preloads the ABS" mean?

Grey_Critic

Let's be honest - Self Drive cars will only work when we get all those idiots who think they can drive off the road.

Yes I am one of those *oldies* that the younger drivers complain about.

Yes I drive at 60mph on motorways but I arrive at my destination withing minutes of those who drive at 70mph and l am a little less stressed.

Yes I do leave a gap between me and the car in front.

No I do not hog the middle lane and yes I am inclined to give way to other drivers.

Have I always been like that? No. I was one of those same idiots always dashing to and fro but I learnt a long time ago that I got into more traffic jams - used more fuel, did not get there any quicker and was frustrated as hell.

Goudy

Krakkkers said:

Mine has a peddle in the middle which when pressed helps me to slow down.

I haven't a peddle in the middle, lots of other don't either.


Emergency Brake Assist primes the brakes so it can initiate full braking force more quickly.
In the event of a detection, the ABS pump automatically boosts brake pressure within it ready for the pedal to be pressed so the extra "head" of boosted brake fluid helps the emergency stop.

You can sometimes fool the system to boost the brake pressure as some systems have a "pedal panic" sensor.
Release the accelerator quickly and they can initiate the brake boost ready for the emergency stop as well as using the camera and radar out front.

You can actually feel the pedal tense up and you don't need to apply the same amount of force to the peddle to get the car to stop.

Grey_Critic

Goudy said:

Krakkkers said:

Mine has a peddle in the middle which when pressed helps me to slow down.

I haven't a peddle in the middle, lots of other don't either.


Emergency Brake Assist primes the brakes so it can initiate full braking force more quickly.
In the event of a detection, the ABS pump automatically boosts brake pressure within it ready for the pedal to be pressed so the extra "head" of boosted brake fluid helps the emergency stop.

You can sometimes fool the system to boost the brake pressure as some systems have a "pedal panic" sensor.
Release the accelerator quickly and they can initiate the brake boost ready for the emergency stop as well as using the camera and radar out front.

You can actually feel the pedal tense up and you don't need to apply the same amount of force to the peddle to get the car to stop.

And there lies the problem - Technology or ratherthe reliance on it which probably causes more problems than people will admit - Older or should I say more mature drivers know the joys of Drum Brakes and their limitations. Before the technology came along drivers had to pay far more attention.

Goudy

Grey_Critic said:

Let's be honest - Self Drive cars will only work when we get all those idiots who think they can drive off the road.

Yes I am one of those *oldies* that the younger drivers complain about.

Yes I drive at 60mph on motorways but I arrive at my destination withing minutes of those who drive at 70mph and l am a little less stressed.

Yes I do leave a gap between me and the car in front.

No I do not hog the middle lane and yes I am inclined to give way to other drivers.

Have I always been like that? No. I was one of those same idiots always dashing to and fro but I learnt a long time ago that I got into more traffic jams - used more fuel, did not get there any quicker and was frustrated as hell.

Perhaps the proliferation of these idiots is partly due to cars becoming "safer".
Tech like collision mitigation and emergency brake assist could be leading poorer drivers into a sense of invulnerability.

I've driven old cars, old as in pre war design,  I've driven modern cars and lots in between. I would choose the modern car every time.
That doesn't make me an idiot driver but it might protect me from some, even protecting me from one might save my life.

With a full self driving car you don't need them off the road.
It could be any idiot sat in it, as long as they aren't driving it wouldn't matter, they are only passengers.

It's likely a solution to the idiot driver.