Google's automatic cars and a little project called HS2
With the recent announcement of 100 prototype fully electric cars with optional steering controls, Google continues to push this forward. There will no doubt be a backlash from mainly older drivers when these vehicles become ubiquitous. I'll be one of many happy to let the car drive home when I'm too tired or have been out for an evening and wanted a glass or two.
I also suspect automatic vehicles will change the interaction between motorised vehicles and pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users, horse riders and other vulnerable users. Because the PR would be so much worse, I have to think a workable automatically-driven car would have to reduce the chance of inflicting major injury on more vulnerable road users to an incredibly low level. As someone who regularly walks on a section of road with no footpath, I am sure most drivers are unaware how intimidating travelling too fast and too close can be.
While driving myself, I pass cyclists only when I can cross into the oncoming lane - just the same as if I was passing another car. Many considerate drivers do this, and you have to think automatically driven vehicles would need to do the same. To do otherwise would risk serious damage to reputation the first time a cyclist wobbles into the gutter as an automatically driven vehicle skims past them. The AD vehicle would need to leave only a computer-precision gap and an average speed 0.001 mph under the speed limit, but to allow it to do so would put the cyclist in serious danger.
The additional thought though goes to assume these efficient dynamic vehicles are in common use by the mid to late 2020's. By 2034, the earliest possible date for commencement of HS2 services, many will be used to allowing the vehicle to do the driving at perhaps 100mph across the country.
You have to wonder with efficient, self-driving, economical and probably with shared ownership or micro-rental arrangements, who will pay for a ticket on a 1970's train that cannot reach your door, run by expensive drivers, conductors, catering and ticket staff, signallers etc? It could be that by the time HS2 is operational passenger transport will have moved on. Maybe HS2 can be adapted to carry freight between London and Birmingham.
I also suspect automatic vehicles will change the interaction between motorised vehicles and pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users, horse riders and other vulnerable users. Because the PR would be so much worse, I have to think a workable automatically-driven car would have to reduce the chance of inflicting major injury on more vulnerable road users to an incredibly low level. As someone who regularly walks on a section of road with no footpath, I am sure most drivers are unaware how intimidating travelling too fast and too close can be.
While driving myself, I pass cyclists only when I can cross into the oncoming lane - just the same as if I was passing another car. Many considerate drivers do this, and you have to think automatically driven vehicles would need to do the same. To do otherwise would risk serious damage to reputation the first time a cyclist wobbles into the gutter as an automatically driven vehicle skims past them. The AD vehicle would need to leave only a computer-precision gap and an average speed 0.001 mph under the speed limit, but to allow it to do so would put the cyclist in serious danger.
The additional thought though goes to assume these efficient dynamic vehicles are in common use by the mid to late 2020's. By 2034, the earliest possible date for commencement of HS2 services, many will be used to allowing the vehicle to do the driving at perhaps 100mph across the country.
You have to wonder with efficient, self-driving, economical and probably with shared ownership or micro-rental arrangements, who will pay for a ticket on a 1970's train that cannot reach your door, run by expensive drivers, conductors, catering and ticket staff, signallers etc? It could be that by the time HS2 is operational passenger transport will have moved on. Maybe HS2 can be adapted to carry freight between London and Birmingham.
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