Are self-driving cars safe enough?

[Philosophy Explorer]

They're starting to become more common as this update indicates:

http://www.popsci.com/virginia-opens-it ... tw&src=SOC

A key question is how much data would you need to be convinced? (this is why I haven't taken a position)

I'm sure in the past, when we went from horses to cars, that people have argued that cars were unsafe. But the cars are here.

What do you think?

PhilX

[Skip]

Transitions are difficult. When the infrastructure exists, the rules are in place, known and enforced, and people stop butting in, then self-driving cars will do much better, safety-wise, than harassed moms, texting teens, exhausted execs, demented elders, split-shifting waitresses, drunken yahoos and your standard all-purpose idjit are doing now.

[thedoc]

Transitions are difficult. When the infrastructure exists, the rules are in place, known and enforced, and people stop butting in, then self-driving cars will do much better, safety-wise, than harassed moms, texting teens, exhausted execs, demented elders, split-shifting waitresses, drunken yahoos and your standard all-purpose idjit are doing now.

Yes, if you can get all those people you listed into self-driving cars, or better yet onto mass transit, the roads would be much safer for those of us who enjoy driving and are careful about it. FYI, I enjoy driving and when I do, that is all that I do. There are times when I don't hold up my end of the conversation, because driving takes precedence over conversing with a passenger, no matter how attractive they are.

[HexHammer]

In theory yes, as they don't get drunk, they are not sleepy or have human defects, but some can be hacked and thereby be unsafe.

But overall, they are MUCH safer than human drivers.

[Philosophy Explorer]

Since self-driving is so new, I decided to study autopilot safety issue for a comparison and to gain insight.

This article is informative, but I think we'll have to await the data I mentioned earlier for a more informed opinion:

http://www.newyorker.com/science/maria- ... automation

PhilX

[Philosophy Explorer]

The number of accidents has gone from 11 to 12.

Update: http://time.com/3911152/google-driverless-cars-crash/

PhilX

[Philosophy Explorer]

I would rather see the accident information provided by the government instead of the makers of self-driving cars.

PhilX

Update: someone must have listened to me:

http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/innovation/ ... ts-n378146

[Philosophy Explorer]

Here's another report with more details:

http://www.cnet.com/news/google-begins- ... CAD590a51e

PhilX

[Philosophy Explorer]

What is wrong with this picture? I'm copying from the article I just posted:

"...Led by Google, self-driving cars have been running on public roads since 2009. It was only in September [2014?], however, that the DMV officially began permitting the testing..."

On the roads since 2009, but testing had started last year. Isn't it supposed to be the reverse? (I believe the cars started on public roads last year).

PhilX