Driverless vehicles - Will they change cycling in any ways?

[icowden]

I think you are correct. I question how 'intelligent' they will be e.g. If speed limit is 30MPH will they just blunder on at 30 even though the car that's 3 in front has slowed?

Did you watch the video I posted earlier?

It's getting better:-
https://x.com/Tesla/status/1772718089269809499?s=20

Watch it. This is how Tesla 12.3 FSD deals with complex roadworks. It doesn't "blunder on at full speed".

 

[simongt]

I can see companies seeing this as a way of forcing people to get their car services and updated at the Main Dealer and trying to get people to avoid local garages.

Also, allied to this point, as there's now so much 'tech' involved in new cars etc., non dealership garages are having a hard time in finding suitably qualified staff and also funding the expense of putting the staff they do have on upgrade courses as the new techno stuff keeps appearing.
Maybe a covert way of main dealers getting rid of decent, value for money garages - ?

 

[icowden]

Also, allied to this point, as there's now so much 'tech' involved in new cars etc., non dealership garages are having a hard time in finding suitably qualified staff and also funding the expense of putting the staff they do have on upgrade courses as the new techno stuff keeps appearing.

If it's EV, the tech should be managed centrally and updated OTA. No need for garages other than new tyres and brake pads and possibly a body shop.

 

[MidnightRider]

No need for garages other than new tyres and brake pads and possibly a body shop.

Rubber boots on the steering, suspension unit replacement, faulty locks, wiper motors and wiper blades, faulty wiring, battery replacements, replacement light units, replacement windscreens, faulty sensors on wipers, lights & reversing systems. Problems with heating systems and air conditioning units, electric motor failures. Various bearings. Electric window failure. Windscreen washer motor/tubing. Heated window faults. Faulty computer boards/processors. Faulty GPS screens & radios. Problems with charging. Water ingress. Loads of stuff I am not experienced enough to list. Friendly bet that all your vehicles have been very new and/or serviced for you

 

[icowden]

Rubber boots on the steering, suspension unit replacement, wiper motors and wiper blades, replacement light units, replacement windscreens, faulty sensors on wipers, lights & reversing systems.Various bearings. Electric window failure.Windscreen washer motor/tubing. Heated window faults.

Agree with these.

faulty locks,, faulty wiring, battery replacements, Problems with heating systems and air conditioning units, electric motor failures. Faulty computer boards/processors. Faulty GPS screens & radios. Problems with charging. Water ingress. Loads of stuff I am not experienced enough to list.

These are likely to need the manufacturer's intervention with EVs I'd have thought.

Friendly bet that all your vehicles have been very new and/or serviced for you

Yep. Well my recent ones. There aren't many old EVs.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Also, allied to this point, as there's now so much 'tech' involved in new cars etc., non dealership garages are having a hard time in finding suitably qualified staff and also funding the expense of putting the staff they do have on upgrade courses as the new techno stuff keeps appearing.
Maybe a covert way of main dealers getting rid of decent, value for money garages - ?

Main dealerships also suffering from EV's clogging up the workshops too.

Our VW needed a new windscreen washer pump under warranty two weeks ago.

Was a hell of a job getting the car seen at short notice ie less than the 3 week wait they originally suggested!

'Decision' to over-ride work currently booked in, had to be escalated to the Service Manager (very helpful chap) who said that his guys were overloaded with EV vehicles that take longer to work on.

Maybe just VW problem?

Maybe a case of a dealership under-investing?

Who knows, and it's a big slick modern dealership, not some tired and dated outfit

 

[icowden]

'Decision' to over-ride work currently booked in, had to be escalated to the Service Manager (very helpful chap) who said that his guys were overloaded with EV vehicles that take longer to work on.
Maybe just VW problem?
Maybe a case of a dealership under-investing?

Probably a bit of both. EVs are far more technical and simple things seem to take a while. I had a rear door handle stop functioning on the ID4. It was seen for assessment fairly quickly and diagnosed, but procuring a whole replacement handle unit took about 6 weeks. First they had to order the handle, then send it to be sprayed the right colour (despite the fact I have the stock base colour car), then book it back in to have the handle fitted. They are still investigating why the paint job doesn't quite match.

 

[The Cycling Lawyer]

There's a book that has been published which covers this exact topic, I've not read it myself, but I think I might order a copy:

Amazon product ASIN 1912687682View: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Practical-Guide-Law-Driverless-Cars/dp/1912687682

 

[Alex321]

There's a book that has been published which covers this exact topic, I've not read it myself, but I think I might order a copy:

Amazon product ASIN 1912687682View: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Practical-Guide-Law-Driverless-Cars/dp/1912687682

Almost 5 years old. With the pace of change in this area, is it still really valid?

Though it is one of those where law changes are unlikely to really keep up with the possibilities.

 

[The Cycling Lawyer]

Almost 5 years old. With the pace of change in this area, is it still really valid?

Though it is one of those where law changes are unlikely to really keep up with the possibilities.

Perhaps, but there will be a lot of good starting points in there (key statues / cases / commentary) - so will be a good starting point - ie, Automated and Electric Vehicles Act 2018.

As one source suggests:

"The first part of the act establishes that insurers are required to deal with all claims even when the vehicle is operating in automated technology mode. Insurers will also have a right of recovery against manufacturers and the right to exclude liability where the relevant individual fails to keep the software up to date.
The second part of the act deals with the electric vehicle charging infrastructure including issues such as availability, compatibility vehicle types, reliability standards and standardising how they are paid for." (https://www.aon.com/unitedkingdom/insights/automated-and-electric-vehicles-act-2018.jsp)

There are some much more expensive books out there which will be more up to date.

 

[The Cycling Lawyer]

Coincidentally, there's also a similar book on e-bikes which was written by a Judge I've met on a couple of occasions and and did some training seminars with my department.

Amazon product ASIN 1914608356View: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Practical-Guide-Regulation-Bikes-Scooters/dp/1914608356/ref=asc_df_1914608356/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=606721232131&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9092506838765394664&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046616&hvtargid=pla-1882255604636&psc=1&mcid=e498de4e38ab3491990d93c2a3ac5ed5&th=1&psc=1

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Sound interesting - but for general interest £50 is a bit much!

 

[mustang1]

Pothole mode activated. Your car will now avoid potholes to save future suspension maintenance costs. Please note that other safety systems are disabled when PHM is active.
In the event the automated system does encounter potholes, an automated lawsuit will be filed against the council responsible for said pothole and you will be reimbursed.

PHM is currently in beta testing and we cannot be held accountable for.....

 

[brommieinkorea]

I'm actually looking forward to it, although I plan to cling to my non-automated car to get the best out of it.

The driverless ones will have the full safety gizmos to stop them prior to a collision, which means I'll be able to pull out or step across a road at will, knowing they'll all just slam on to let me through, like the parting of the red sea for ancient pedestrians.

I've quite a bit of experience with the so called safety technology i.e. automatic emergency braking. Pedestrians,bicycles, and deer are invisible. But a soda/beer can blowing across the highway can be another matter.
Whether or not fully autonomous vehicles will be as bad, I don't know.
Of course, here in the USA most crashes involving motor vehicles and bike are largely intentional and most cyclists here know it even though they are afraid to voice it because of vicious motorheads everywhere. So lots of people on bikes think that taking the driver out of the equation will make the roads safer.
I'm sure this sounds like the tinfoil hat wearing conspiracy theorists....but then again a tinfoil hat or even better, a metal jacket or pair of shorts could be a lifesaver...

 

[brommieinkorea]

Why would there be any carnage? The affected truck would just move to the hard shoulder and send out a distress call, complete with details of the fault.


Again - robots are better at this than humans and if they have the correct field of vision can pull into tighter spaces.


That has to be worked out with between the logistics company and the company receiving the goods. It might be that having reached the depot, the driverless truck works with a pilot.


Why would you give the wrong delivery address?


You plug them in to chargers. They will be electric.


I'm sure all these things will be considered. An autonomous truck doesn't mean human free.

All of this crap happens in the trucking industry. This is why autonomous trucks would only be useful on motorways/interstate highways as they would be woefully incapable of navigating the city streets and backroads. One of the biggest problems that autonomous trucks(articulated lorry)would face here in North America is varying wheelbase of trailers.