First auto pilot car fatality

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[QUOTE 4346648, member: 9609"]Apparently driverless lorry convoys are to be trialled on the M6 later this year, lead lorry will be manned but following convoy of 10 trucks will be driver-less. Not sure how that is going to work out if some numpty in a car forces his way between them then starts brake-testing. And what will happen if driver of lead truck need to pop into services for a pee, what exactly will he be doing with 10 truck 800' convoy? I can see problems - LOL[/QUOTE]
For the trial, there are going to be drivers in each lorry. I don't think anyone would think they'd be available for emergency response, but they could take over control for the vehicle in the circumstances you describe (and presumably to facilitate a toilet break).

That's the trial, of course. This is worrying, in the long term. Road trains in Australia (single arctic cabin with multiple trailers attached) have over tired drivers strung out on amphetamines. I remember one when a driver fell asleep at the wheel, and destroyed an entire country town.
 

GrumpyGregry

Here for rides.
There are many similar crashes regularly on motorways with the 'real' drivers we have (unless by 'real' you meant competent). At least on this occasion it appears to have been averted by the technology where the human failed.

GC
It makes me wonder how many incidents the auto-pilot avoided?
 
Well the stats actually say it should be 27.62 people being killed on US roads per 130 million kilometers. You are abnormal :smile: However, Tesla's autonomous driving only works on major roads like motorways which are safer, so you would expect the death toll to be lower.
What stats? Wikipedia puts it at 7.1/billion km. Which is just under 1 per 130million km. UK is half that, so about 1 per 173million miles.

Which is better. But I think this ad says it well


View: https://youtu.be/TDGdt2DTQPU
 

I like Skol

A Minging Manc...
What stats? Wikipedia puts it at 7.1/billion km. Which is just under 1 per 130million km. UK is half that, so about 1 per 173million miles.

Which is better. But I think this ad says it well


View: https://youtu.be/TDGdt2DTQPU

Jeez, that hits hard, but it is kind of the point I was trying to make with my 1 in 130 comment. These are not just strangers but is likely to be someone you know as friends/family/colleagues. There is no-one that somebody won't miss!
 

steveindenmark

Legendary Member
Driverless lorries are not far away. It's just one more reason why I am slowly but surely cutting my ties with an occupation on it's knees, and why very few are willing to spend the money required to qualify (or in fact, remain qualified).
Interesting times ahead on the roads. Hopefully by then I will have hung up my keys for good and be doing more :bicycle:.

The lorries they are talking about about are not driverless and I cannot see that happening in my lifetime.

They were testing platooning in Denmark all last year but you still need drivers.
 

Joey Shabadoo

My pronouns are "He", "Him" and "buggerlugs"
If driverless cars happen, it'll happen very quickly. Insurance will no longer be the responsibility of the owner, but the manufacturer and they will be able to quantify to a high degree of accuracy the risks for the insurer. The premiums will be far lower for driverless than manual cars and, as people switch, this difference will become more and more accentuated. The public will have a choice - buy a Tesla that comes fully insured or buy a Ford Focus and insure it yourself for a lot of money.

First to switch will be companies - they have to because they have a duty to shareholders to lower costs so they couldn't justify higher insurances. All those company cars, delivery vans, buses and lorries will become driverless probably within three years of proven technology hitting the market.

In the end it'll be a status symbol of the rich to own a manual car.
 

I like Skol

A Minging Manc...
If driverless cars happen, it'll happen very quickly. Insurance will no longer be the responsibility of the owner, but the manufacturer and they will be able to quantify to a high degree of accuracy the risks for the insurer. The premiums will be far lower for driverless than manual cars and, as people switch, this difference will become more and more accentuated. The public will have a choice - buy a Tesla that comes fully insured or buy a Ford Focus and insure it yourself for a lot of money.

First to switch will be companies - they have to because they have a duty to shareholders to lower costs so they couldn't justify higher insurances. All those company cars, delivery vans, buses and lorries will become driverless probably within three years of proven technology hitting the market.

In the end it'll be a status symbol of the rich to own a manual car.
It's a horrible vision of the future, especially for an enthusiast like me who wants to keep an old Land Rover Defender on the road until I stop driving.
 
It's a horrible vision of the future, especially for an enthusiast like me who wants to keep an old Land Rover Defender on the road until I stop driving.
Safety comes before aesthetics. You will be driving a box with 4 wheels that all look the same.....one day
 

classic33

Leg End Member
The lorries they are talking about about are not driverless and I cannot see that happening in my lifetime.
They did a run from one end of the M62 and back earlier this year.
In line with current UK law, all vehicles had a driver in them, but their movement was controlled by the lead vehicle.
 

potsy

Rambler
Location
My Armchair
Maybe I have my head stuck in the sand but I just cannot imagine this ever becoming 'the norm'

Then again I never thought I'd have use for a mobile phone so what do I know? ^_^
 
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