Autonomous driving legal next year

ComicGeek

We've got a Mustang MachE. It already has a part self drive function for motorways (like a few other cars), which will keep within lanes, take corners, maintain speed and brake as needed - it works really well and I use it all the time, but I do feel safer with hands on the wheel just in case.

Not sure that I'll be paying £20/month to take my hands off though, but will try the free trial
when it's released.

MouldyOldDough

DullGreyGuy said:

MouldyOldDough said:

So there will effectively be an extremely low number of cars around with drivers who are drunk, on their mobile phones, reading newspapers and/or watching TV

There are already low number of drivers who are drunk, it will still be an offence for them to be drunk.

They cannot be on their phones, reading newspapers or watching TV, they are required to keep their eyes on the road as they remain the responsible driver and the system has a camera to ensure this happens 

So what will it do if it detects that the driver is not concentrating? 
Brake and stop the car on the motorway? 

DullGreyGuy

MouldyOldDough said:

DullGreyGuy said:

MouldyOldDough said:

So there will effectively be an extremely low number of cars around with drivers who are drunk, on their mobile phones, reading newspapers and/or watching TV

There are already low number of drivers who are drunk, it will still be an offence for them to be drunk.

They cannot be on their phones, reading newspapers or watching TV, they are required to keep their eyes on the road as they remain the responsible driver and the system has a camera to ensure this happens 

So what will it do if it detects that the driver is not concentrating? 
Brake and stop the car on the motorway? 

Did you not read the article you posted about?

According to the same article, the system makes a loud audible alert and if the drivers attention doesnt return it applies the breaks to gradually slow the vehicle.

Car_54

EssexExile said:

Human error is a contributory factor in 88% of road accidents, the computer doesn't have a very high bar to get over to make things better.

Is that a typo for 99%?

Goldenyears

I have not seen the passenger experience taken into account.  Would they really feel comfortable reading, sleeping etc while car is under level 2 control?  Everyone is different.  Mrs Goldenyears says she would never be able to take her eyes off the road as a passenger under level 2 control. She is not even happy about my use of cruise control (not adaptive) and the reason is something I didn't realise until recently.  When I pause cruise control temporarily she knows the car is slowing but is not sure whether my foot is on the brake or not - and this makes her nervous.

lincroft1710

At one time you associated a Ford Mustang with overtaking slow moving VWs and pursuing Dodge Chargers down steep hills in San Francisco. Now it's a car which drives itself and follows the car in front!

lemondrops69

Goldenyears said:

I have not seen the passenger experience taken into account.  Would they really feel comfortable reading, sleeping etc while car is under level 2 control?  Everyone is different.  Mrs Goldenyears says she would never be able to take her eyes off the road as a passenger under level 2 control. She is not even happy about my use of cruise control (not adaptive) and the reason is something I didn't realise until recently.  When I pause cruise control temporarily she knows the car is slowing but is not sure whether my foot is on the brake or not - and this makes her nervous.

You cant take your eyes off the road with level 2, vehicle needs to be level 4. I've been in a level 3 vehicle, still needs a safety driver just in case, but 99.9% hands off and it was on a public road. Even then its geo-fenced and runs a set route, was really good on roundabouts, it doesnt enter the yellow box until its exit is clear etc. I've also seen a Level 4, no people on board but has to be followed by a safety vehicle and can be remotely controlled and has a very limited route and not on public road

MouldyOldDough

Potholes, Wornout road markings and double lining (where lines are moved temporarily due to roadworks) these appear to have been ignored...
How will an autonomous system cope with these? 

photome

  Mine  and many other cars can already do this.  Apart from  of course the hands free bit although I can leave go of steering wheel for a second or two before the warning kicks in

it works very well in a contra flow near to me. Accelerates,brakes and steers , keeping the same distance from the car in front


i don’t have a problem with the new rules re the mustang, it will be everywhere eventually

zagfles

MouldyOldDough said:

Potholes, Wornout road markings and double lining (where lines are moved temporarily due to roadworks) these appear to have been ignored...
How will an autonomous system cope with these? 

Badly it seems - many cars now have Lane Trace Assist which will steer if it thinks you're drifting out of the lane, so if you're just trying to avoid a pothole it could drive you straight into it as happened to someone I know.