First auto pilot car fatality

[Cubist]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36680043

Is this the first incident of its kind? In the article it appears that the safety features of the car failed to recognise the white side of a lorry against a bright background. Under normal circumstances it would have changed direction and speed based in info from sensors etc.

The proliferation of safety features, not just passive ones like airbags and seatbelts, but proactive and reactive control features in cars is surely removing responsibility from driving properly?

 

[tyred]

Based on experience from 37 years on this planet, I find very few people - either with or without driver aids are capable driving properly.

 

[Dec66]

Let me guess; cyclist came out of nowhere?

 

[Brandane]

The proliferation of safety features, not just passive ones like airbags and seatbelts, but proactive and reactive control features in cars is surely removing responsibility from driving properly?

That has been the case for a long time. No need to learn how to "feel" for the lock up point on brakes any more; just stamp as hard as possible on the pedal and let the ABS sensors do their thing. Similarly, don't worry if you crash, all those nice airbags and crumple zones will let you walk away unscathed. People might learn to drive with more care and attention if instead of a nice fluffy airbag built into the steering wheel, there was a sharp metal spike!

 

[I like Skol]

Stupid technology IMO. Stupid drivers as well. Why would you allow your vehicle to have control of the driving in an environment where all the other vehicles are not controlled in the same manner. The ONLY way this type of tech can work is where ALL vehicles are controlled and their movements are synchronised, removing the random and chance occurrences that will otherwise always be a part of driving (and that is without considering pedestrian/cyclist/animal movements and the occasional mechanical failure!).

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

People might learn to drive with more care and attention if instead of a nice fluffy airbag built into the steering wheel, there was a sharp metal spike!

Like the Chrysler Voyager?

http://www.theaa.com/allaboutcars/n...=Voyager&year=1999&publicationDate=1999-06-01

 

[Brandane]

Like the Chrysler Voyager?

http://www.theaa.com/allaboutcars/n...=Voyager&year=1999&publicationDate=1999-06-01

Ouch! If people who drive them were aware of that, I think they would drive them more carefully. Just goes to show that bigger isn't necessarily safer, which is what some buyers seem to have been brainwashed into thinking.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

In the article it appears that the safety features of the car failed to recognise the white side of a lorry against a bright background. Under normal circumstances it would have changed direction and speed based in info from sensors etc.

It's impossible to say at the moment.

The self-drive feature of the Tesla requires that the driver maintains hands on the steering wheel at all times, so that makes me wonder if there was some other reason for the collision.

GC

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Like the Chrysler Voyager?

http://www.theaa.com/allaboutcars/n...=Voyager&year=1999&publicationDate=1999-06-01

As bad as that car's safety rating for occupants is, just look at its (and other vehicles') pedestrian safety rating. Appalling.

GC

 

[SteCenturion]

Just goes to show that bigger isn't necessarily safer,

My Chelsea Tractor is bigger than yours

 

[Dec66]

My Chelsea Tractor is bigger than yours

View attachment 133523

Are you sure?

 

[Brandane]

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 .

 

[I like Skol]

[QUOTE 4346580, member: 9609"]I find the whole thing about camera not seeing white trailer against a background of white clouds a bid odd - surely the awareness devices on automated cars is radar/sonar., or how would they work at night?
American trucks don't seem to have side under-run protection bars as standard, I wonder if the cars sensors were aimed a little too low, but even then surely the tesla wasn't trying to squeeze into the ga between the tractor and the rear wheels of the trailer.

1 death per 130M miles is in keeping with the USA av of 140M. but quite a bit below our 270M[/QUOTE]
All good points. The software probably uses a combination of visual contrast and radar/sonar obstruction detection but I still think relying on such infant and poorly integrated technology to avoid being that 1 person in 140 million miles is moronic.

 

[Milkfloat]

130 Millions miles and one fatality - although it is one too many, those odds are not too bad.

 

[Levo-Lon]

I find the whole idea worrying..
unless its on rails id not want to sit in one..