Keezer
Adventurist
http://www.economist.com/news/speci...ar-may-come-invisible-chauffeur-look-no-hands
I've read a few articles recently on the vehicles we'll drive in the near future. The one I've linked above was of particular interest to me about being able to put your vehicle on autopilot. We've probably all read stories like this before but I found this one interesting because of the questions it poses. By the end of the article I would view my vehicle in this near future world as not so much my truck but as an automonus vehicle that had as much of a duty to interact with traffic management, law enforcement, an my insurer as it did getting me to point B. Basically, my truck would not be the good friend I see it as now, it may be the enemy, reporting on me to big brother for any transgression I may commit. Who could ever bestow a name on such a traitor?
We see some of this already with the auto parking, distance monitors, and
my favorite, the recorder your insurer wants you to plug into your OBD port. You consider this with the ever increasing accuracy of google maps and I think we may be a lot closer to this becoming a reality than one might think. Sure, turning it off may be an option but as the article states, what might your insurance rates be for setting your vehicle to Manual vs leaving it in Auto? Think of the liability portion of your insurance.
So, do you think this is coming soon? There will surely be much apprehension amoung the public but considering the benefits as stated in the article, I'll bet if the technology is sound, there will be a big push on this. People will soon fall in line when they see the lower insurance rates of those who get on board first and the benefit of being able to get other things done while in transit.
One question not presented in the article is the effect on new drivers (teens). Driving is about the only thing they have to pay attention to now, their only sure source of having to act responsibly. If this is taken away will it have a negative effect? I think so.
I've read a few articles recently on the vehicles we'll drive in the near future. The one I've linked above was of particular interest to me about being able to put your vehicle on autopilot. We've probably all read stories like this before but I found this one interesting because of the questions it poses. By the end of the article I would view my vehicle in this near future world as not so much my truck but as an automonus vehicle that had as much of a duty to interact with traffic management, law enforcement, an my insurer as it did getting me to point B. Basically, my truck would not be the good friend I see it as now, it may be the enemy, reporting on me to big brother for any transgression I may commit. Who could ever bestow a name on such a traitor?
We see some of this already with the auto parking, distance monitors, and
my favorite, the recorder your insurer wants you to plug into your OBD port. You consider this with the ever increasing accuracy of google maps and I think we may be a lot closer to this becoming a reality than one might think. Sure, turning it off may be an option but as the article states, what might your insurance rates be for setting your vehicle to Manual vs leaving it in Auto? Think of the liability portion of your insurance.
So, do you think this is coming soon? There will surely be much apprehension amoung the public but considering the benefits as stated in the article, I'll bet if the technology is sound, there will be a big push on this. People will soon fall in line when they see the lower insurance rates of those who get on board first and the benefit of being able to get other things done while in transit.
One question not presented in the article is the effect on new drivers (teens). Driving is about the only thing they have to pay attention to now, their only sure source of having to act responsibly. If this is taken away will it have a negative effect? I think so.
