quote:
An autonomous truck isn't going to avoid a crash because honky lips in his Dodge Ram tried to swerve over 3 lanes to get to the exit ramp at the last second. It also isn't going to stop the tailgater in the Pirius from eating the back end of the trailer when the auto-truck comes to a sudden stop.

I get the feeling people think these vehicles are magic.

If I'm on a jury and it's obvious that Captain Smug offed himself because he drove his Prius headlong into 80,000 pounds of steel and cargo, I don't care if the truck was autonomous or not. It's Captain Smug's fault and I'm telling his family they'll get nothing and they need to get bent. I'm also awarding the trucking company legal fees if they ask for it.

It's demonstrable, though, that autonomous vehicles are far safer than humans when driven in conditions they're programmed properly for. Just look up Google's driving statistics. Sure, it doesn't handle rain or snow well, right now, but they're constantly improving and the day is rapidly approaching when the set of conditions autonomous vehicles handle better than humans can be summed up as "always".

As long as there are humans driving, though, there will be avoidable accidents, but it's fallacious to say that autonomous vehicles should be somehow maligned because they can't avoid an accident for which they're not at-fault.

EDIT: How did I get into a serious discussion on the OT when I just came here to shite on truckers that set up rolling roadblocks to pass other truckers going a half mile an hour slower than they are?

This post was edited on 7/18/17 at 4:02 pm

1 ...

Report Post

Posted by The Quiet One

Former United States

Member since Oct 2013

11608 posts

Posted on 7/18/17 at 6:24 pm to TigerstuckinMS

quote:
It's demonstrable, though, that autonomous vehicles are far safer than humans when driven in conditions they're programmed properly for.

I don't doubt it.

I thought of another problem these autonomous vehicles have to deal with: shitty roads. I don't mean bad weather. I mean those massive potholes that practically litter some states like some badge of honor. California has the shittiest highways and interstates I've ever driven.

I know how to lean to the right or left of my lane to avoid those potholes, bumps and dips. Not sure if auto-truck knows how to do that yet. Tear up tires, shocks, and damage other parts of the truck hitting those things just right.

quote:
when I just came here to shite on truckers that set up rolling roadblocks to pass other truckers going a half mile an hour slower than they are?

As a trucker, it's embarrassing other truckers drive like fricking idiots. We're supposed to be professional. Chalk it up to these big companies not wanting to pay their drivers a reasonable wage. End up hiring the dregs of society to save a few bucks.