Can You Trust Driverless Cars?

It’s thrilling to think about self-driving cars. It’s like rolling with the Jetsons as you slice through traffic with nobody at the wheel.

And then you read about the horrific collisions and decapitations. The NTSA is investigating the autopilot systems in unmanned Teslas that have crashed into parked emergency vehicles, or the steering wheels that came off in drivers’ hands.

Still a few bugs to work out.

But carmakers insist that autonomous vehicles are inevitable. Not only will they transform long-haul trucking, they project over 33 million drivers will be on the road by 2040. 

You’ve probably never heard of the next wave of auto-tech companies. But soon you’ll recognize Amazon’s Zoox, designed for dense, city driving. They also handle the charging and maintenance. In return, the driver doesn’t own a Zoox, they just pay for using the service. Or Google’s Waymo that uses driverless taxis that are wirelessly controlled by humans in case their systems fail.

A recent study revealed what we already know. Most people aren’t ready to hop in. They feel ‘less safe’ sharing the road with driverless cars. I’m all for self-driving cars ,when I don’t feel like a guinea pig.

Something about writhing in a twisted heap of scorched metal.

Here’s my take. Autonomous car makers are feeling the pressure to prove their cars are safe. So, they’ve launched an test program in the country’s toughest driving city: San Francisco. GM is betting on their Cruise robotaxi service to lead the way in the city by the bay. Imagine driverless cars tackling steep hills, tight streets, blind intersections and cable car tracks.

Sounds like we’re headed into unchartered waters. So, pull up a chair. This should be fun to watch.

It’s thrilling to think about self-driving cars. It’s like rolling with the Jetsons as you slice through traffic with nobody at the wheel.

And then you read about the horrific collisions and decapitations. The NTSA is investigating the autopilot systems in unmanned Teslas that have crashed into parked emergency vehicles, or the steering wheels that came off in drivers’ hands.

Still a few bugs to work out.

But carmakers insist that autonomous vehicles are inevitable. Not only will they transform long-haul trucking, they project over 33 million driverless vehicles will be on the road by 2040. 

You’ve probably never heard of the next wave of auto-tech companies. But soon you’ll recognize Amazon’s Zoox, designed for dense, city driving. They also handle the charging and maintenance. In return, the driver doesn’t own a Zoox, they just pay for using the service. Or Google’s Waymo that uses driverless taxis that are wirelessly controlled by humans in case their systems fail.

A recent study revealed what we already know. Most people aren’t ready to hop in. They feel ‘less safe’ sharing the road with driverless cars. I’m all for self-driving cars ,when I don’t feel like a guinea pig.

Something about writhing in a twisted heap of scorched metal.

Here’s my take. Autonomous car makers are feeling the pressure to prove their cars are safe. So, they’ve launched an test program in the country’s toughest driving city: San Francisco. GM is betting on their Cruise robotaxi service to lead the way in the city by the bay. Imagine driverless cars tackling steep hills, tight streets, blind intersections and cable car tracks.

Sounds like we’re headed into unchartered waters. So, pull up a chair. This should be fun to watch.