Driverless cars

[bowber]

I've just watched a small article/video on the BBC where AXA are testing driverless cars with brake failures etc and one of the tests was a head on decision between a car or a quad, the driverless car decided to hit the quad, now I'm not sure why that would be the decision but if it came down to a bike or a car, I've been overtaken by cars obviously fed up with following me in a speed limit, then it doesn't bode well for us bike riders!

Obviously this was only a test and there may be alterations, or was it a decision based on 1 life against possibly 2 or more in the 2 cars? It's a consequence of driverless cars I've never considered before but it's got me thinking now!

Steve

[Nigel]

From what I`ve seen a lot of cars on the road don`t have drivers in them anyway cars deliberately pull out in front of you, indicators don`t work so I assumed they were already driver-less
As for having a truck train with 3 in a row with little gap between them that`s going to work well!
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... platooning

[Treadtrader]

There's been plenty of driverless cars since the mobile phone was available.

And three trucks all together in a convoy with only one driver should lead to some tailbacks when another truck tries to pass!

[DavidS]

Both ideas are a load of %#%**#}%*

[Tonibe63]

Ohhhh, what happens to the car that is bound to push in between trucks at the last minute?

[Billy Bananahead]

Do the trucks all go to the same depot to load/unload?
Then when they're empty to they all trudge off to get another load or part-load? Then all trudge off again together?
Sounds like some little jobsworth thought up the idea whilst never actually had any experience within the haulage industry.
Keeps the dick in a job though so I suppose that's alright then.

[steve the grease]

After whats happened today on the M1 I say bring it on. The idea is that when all the lorries are going the same route , they latch together by communicating . Obviously they unlatch and go off to seperate destinations, but it should stop all this ' Oh look I'm doing 1/2 a mile an hour faster than you, think I'll overtake' nonsense. Most lorry drivers are extremely professional, but for certain occupations , the writing may be on the wall.

[paul_tim2000]

I wondered about the trucks plan, drivers, logistics etc...
What it seems to be is a plan to reduce fuel consumption (major cost component) by getting the trucks into each others slipstream without the risk of nose to tail accidents. Every truck will have a driver to steer the vehicle but speed and braking will be controlled by the lead vehicle. I assume one of the following trucks could break the train by applying it's brakes.

Now to my small brain the thought of travelling for 2-3 hours, steering a 44 ton truck, 2 m from the rear of the trailer in front and no forward visibility, with no control of the speed, no way of anticipating what is coming up doesn't really work, how do you keep the driver in the following truck aware and alert, who is liable in case of an accident, how do you stop going mad following that close with no control?

Sounds a good idea, technically interesting but not too sure about the practical implications.

[Mike54]

better rail investment and get truck cargo on the rails. Also I'd like to see what happens in many european countries - trucks barred from the mways on sundays

[92kk k100lt 193214]

This is all leading up to driverless motorbikes. Surprised no one saw that one coming.