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posted by chromas on Thursday March 21 2019, @04:52PM   Printer-friendly
from the two-minutes-hate dept.

Ok, I recently submitted a story about forensic tests for distracted driving. Now we have this:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2019/03/20/volvo-says-in-car-cameras-will-monitor-drivers-take-action-prevent-distracted-or-impaired-driving/

Volvo on Wednesday announced plans to install cameras in its vehicles that will monitor drivers for signs of distracted or impaired driving and take action if it appears that a driver’s behavior becomes dangerous.

The Swedish automaker, which recently announced that it would limit the top speeds of its cars as a way of making highways safer, said the cameras would be part of a system that would slow the vehicles and “safely park” them on the side of the road if they detected that a driver was becoming incapacitated or if the driver’s attention had lapsed for a long time. The technology would also summon help from its 24/7 assistance center.

Fuck this. That's my opinion. The day my vehicle tells me that I can't go faster than 73, when I'm headed to the emergency room...

Also, I know that this post is from the Washington Post. If you've already read too many of their articles this month, and are paywalled, consider blocking java script. Works for me...

Also at TechRadar, Engadget & CNet Roadshow.


Original Submission

Related Stories

Textalyzer' Aims To Curb Distracted Driving, but What About Privacy? 34 comments

https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2017/04/27/525729013/textalyzer-aims-to-curb-distracted-driving-but-what-about-privacy

If you're one of the many who text, read email or view Facebook on your phone while driving, be warned: Police in your community may soon have a tool for catching you red-handed.

The new "textalyzer" technology is modeled after the Breathalyzer, and would determine if you had been using your phone illegally on the road.

I originally saw this story on the Washington Post but since that is sometimes paywalled I submitted another source...

[Ed. addition follows.]

‘Breathalyzyer for texting’: Nevada weighs controversial technology to curb distracted driving :

Nevada is considering legislation that would allow police to test for cellphone use at the scene of a car crash. But the use of such technology to curb distracted driving also raises privacy concerns, and some critics contend it violates constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure.

The state is just the latest to take a hard look at so-called textalyzers. New York, New Jersey, Tennessee and the city of Chicago are mulling similar legislation.

The measure’s backers contend that existing distracted driving laws are nearly impossible to enforce. Though it’s illegal to text while driving in 47 states and the District, or use handheld devices behind the wheel in more than a dozen states, federal traffic safety figures show that distracted driving remains a persistent and deadly problem.

[...]>The Nevada bill would let police officers plug the device into a phone and scan for recent activity, like Facebook messaging or web browsing. The Israel-based company behind the textalyzer, Cellebrite, said it drew on the alcohol-detecting breathalyzer for the name.

Privacy advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union, contend that law enforcement should not be allowed to use the tool without a warrant. Though the textalyzer has been cast as a “breathalyzer for texting,” the ACLU say it’s invasive and would violate Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure.

The ACLU has also raised questions about the types of data the device would collect and how it would determine whether a person was using their phone with their hands or relying on a hands-free option.


Original Submission

EU: Mandatory Speed Limiters Likely to be Required in All New Cars 69 comments

The EU is moving forward with legislation to require ISA, Intelligent Speed Assistance, in all new cars starting in 2022. This system will use GPS, map databases, and speed limit reading cameras to limit speed. Speed limiting will be accomplished by limiting engine power. Drivers can temporarily override the system by pressing down hard on the accelerator. It seems that, at least to start, the system will have an off button. Other requirements of the legislation include a system to monitor the driver for drowsiness, and inattention, as well as standard hookups for in car breathalysers. It seems the driver monitoring systems may include in car cameras pointed at the driver.

Sources:

thisismoney.co.uk
fortune.com
euractiv.com
theengineer.co.uk
gizmodo.com

Previously on Soylent: Volvo: In-Car Cameras Will Monitor Drivers and Take Action to Prevent Distracted or Impaired Driving


Original Submission

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  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by legont on Thursday March 21 2019, @04:55PM (2 children)

    by legont (4179) on Thursday March 21 2019, @04:55PM (#818040)

    Sure they will; by pointing nose down to the nearest pole.

    --
    "Wealth is the relentless enemy of understanding" - John Kenneth Galbraith.
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 22 2019, @01:45PM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 22 2019, @01:45PM (#818392)

      You mean, on the northern hemisphere, the AI will always head to the north?

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 22 2019, @03:38PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 22 2019, @03:38PM (#818447)

        there's an underground railroad joke in here somewhere

  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by FatPhil on Thursday March 21 2019, @05:18PM (12 children)

    by FatPhil (863) <pc-soylentNO@SPAMasdf.fi> on Thursday March 21 2019, @05:18PM (#818055) Homepage
    Why do tech companies seem to not realise that there's a million miles between "add tech to detect state" and "add tech to forcibly change state"? The detect state is fine, even recording it for forensics, it's all part of what's colloquially known as the "black box". (Which is traditionally red, by the way.)

    These two levels of invasiveness aren't even close, there's a mid-way (or not) point of "add tech to detect and report state externally" which some might consider a step to far. It's kind of a midway point, as the agent that changes your state could be a summoned external entity in a suitably dystopean right-the-fuck-now.

    One might say that letting level 1 (detect) become standard is just part of a slippery slop that will lead to level 2 (report) and level 3 (autonomous control), but I don't buy slippery slopes like that. If 2 is bad enough to reject it when we don't have 1, then 2 is bad enough to reject when we do have 1. We just need strong enough market forces to ensure that it doesn't get forced onto consumers by manufacturs - which requires a suitably aware buying public, and strong enough vox populi political clout so that politicians who are worried about where their next votes will come from don't force the manufacturers to force it onto the consumers.

    Who am I kidding, we're screwed.
    --
    Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @05:28PM (5 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @05:28PM (#818065)

      I wasn't planning on buying a recent Volvo anyway (although we had great fun with an old Volvo 145 wagon back in the early 1980s).

      But if you don't like this system, do what I do, block the camera(s) with some opaque tape.

      • (Score: 4, Insightful) by fustakrakich on Thursday March 21 2019, @05:37PM (4 children)

        by fustakrakich (6150) on Thursday March 21 2019, @05:37PM (#818070) Journal

        Car won't start until it sees a face and checks for warrants and unpaid tickets.

        --
        La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
        • (Score: 3, Funny) by DannyB on Thursday March 21 2019, @07:50PM

          by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Thursday March 21 2019, @07:50PM (#818138) Journal

          And check for valid driver license. Vehicle registration. Insurance. Up to date eye exam. Single drop blood test for intoxicants or other driving impairment drugs.

          Play a loud train horn, inside the vehicle, to ensure hearing is was okay.

          Then double check that driver does not appear to be in road rage mood.

          --
          People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
        • (Score: 2) by arslan on Friday March 22 2019, @06:43AM

          by arslan (3462) on Friday March 22 2019, @06:43AM (#818325)

          The first problem (face detection) is easily solvable if they're like the current crop of Android phones... the others (outstanding warrants & unpaid tickets) are as well if they're based on the face being detected.

          Now I just need to find me a printer to print HRC's face on one side and Trump's on the other.

        • (Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Friday March 22 2019, @03:34PM (1 child)

          by tangomargarine (667) on Friday March 22 2019, @03:34PM (#818443)

          I will be mighty disappointed if shortly after they roll out that feature, there isn't immediately a social phenomenon where large numbers of people start taping a picture of Abraham Lincoln (who exactly it is doesn't matter; just that everyone uses the same person) or somebody to the camera.

          Make it happen, hackers :)

          --
          "Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 22 2019, @07:13PM

            by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 22 2019, @07:13PM (#818529)

            Sorry, they take a mug shot when you buy the car. They will also take DNA and sniff pheromones, which means the women will have to take it to the dealer to have the thing reset every month, otherwise the car will start emitting wolf whistles and cat calls while cruising down Michigan Avenue.

    • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday March 21 2019, @07:52PM (1 child)

      by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Thursday March 21 2019, @07:52PM (#818141) Journal

      Why do tech companies seem to not realise . . . (stupid thing)

      One word: Managers.

      --
      People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
      • (Score: 3, Funny) by FatPhil on Thursday March 21 2019, @08:55PM

        by FatPhil (863) <pc-soylentNO@SPAMasdf.fi> on Thursday March 21 2019, @08:55PM (#818169) Homepage
        I noticed you typed that correctly - I always fail. It always seems to come out "damagers".
        --
        Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @11:45PM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @11:45PM (#818220)

      You are of course missing the juicy "monitize state" in between.

      • (Score: 2) by FatPhil on Friday March 22 2019, @01:49AM

        by FatPhil (863) <pc-soylentNO@SPAMasdf.fi> on Friday March 22 2019, @01:49AM (#818257) Homepage
        absolutely - level 1.1 follows very soon after level 1, and level 2.1 soof after level 2. Neither "security patchset" is refusable.
        --
        Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
    • (Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Friday March 22 2019, @03:31PM (1 child)

      by tangomargarine (667) on Friday March 22 2019, @03:31PM (#818439)

      I like to imagine that most engineers don't really want to force their users to do things, but the head honchos or marketeers just don't give a shit and tell them to do it anyway.

      See also the Windows 10 upgrade

      --
      "Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
      • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 22 2019, @05:10PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 22 2019, @05:10PM (#818483)

        They must be terrible engineers if they can't find a better job than this one.

  • (Score: 2, Insightful) by DeathMonkey on Thursday March 21 2019, @05:23PM (10 children)

    by DeathMonkey (1380) on Thursday March 21 2019, @05:23PM (#818060) Journal

    The day my vehicle tells me that I can't go faster than 73, when I'm headed to the emergency room...

    Just don't kill anyone else while you're unsafely driving to that emergency room....

    • (Score: 3, Informative) by black6host on Thursday March 21 2019, @05:40PM (8 children)

      by black6host (3827) on Thursday March 21 2019, @05:40PM (#818073) Journal

      Well, the speed limit on the highways is 70 around here. I think going less than 75 would be more dangerous, the way most people drive.

      • (Score: 3, Informative) by DeathMonkey on Thursday March 21 2019, @08:33PM (3 children)

        by DeathMonkey (1380) on Thursday March 21 2019, @08:33PM (#818158) Journal

        The limiter kicks in at 112, FTA: Earlier this month, Volvo said it would limit the top speed in its vehicles to a little more than 112 mph.

        (there is a correction note at the bottom so it probably did say 73 at some point)

        • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @10:54PM (2 children)

          by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @10:54PM (#818203)

          No, they said 112 kilometers per hour, which is 73 mph. Fuck you Volvo. Fuck you and all the other retards who don't understand the concept of freedom.

          • (Score: 1) by optotronic on Friday March 22 2019, @01:50AM

            by optotronic (4285) on Friday March 22 2019, @01:50AM (#818258)

            Fuck you Volvo. Fuck you and all the other retards who don't understand the concept of freedom.

            Is that the same freedom you have to not buy a Volvo? Or the freedom to buy a car from a company that values safety more than another auto manufacturer?

          • (Score: 2) by FatPhil on Friday March 22 2019, @09:45AM

            by FatPhil (863) <pc-soylentNO@SPAMasdf.fi> on Friday March 22 2019, @09:45AM (#818341) Homepage
            It's not even that, it's 69.6 mph. So it's probably 70 mph, which they then converted to km/h and rounded for publication.
            --
            Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
      • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday March 22 2019, @02:29AM (3 children)

        by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Friday March 22 2019, @02:29AM (#818272) Journal

        Funny you mention that. Texas, in it's infinite wisdom, increased all their speed limits a few years ago. In general, I'm happy with increasing speed limits, especially on interstate highways. But, they over did it. The speed limit between Texarkana and New Boston on I-20 went up to 80 mph. I have no problem at all with 80, west of New Boston. But, that 20 miles between New Boston and Texarkana are more heavily traveled. The highway is always near full capacity.

        They've recently lowered the speed limit to 75 going out of New Boston, toward Texarkana, then it drops to 70 much sooner than it did, and finally drops to 65 around Nash. IMO, they should probably lower it to 60 right at the US-59 junction, and remain at 60 to the state line, but 65 is better than 70, or 75, like it was.

        I drive fast, but speed has it's place. In near bumper-to-bumper traffic, 80 mph turns the highway into a death trap.

        It would be interesting if there were comparisons of other states, regions, or city-wide areas that had to rethink some of their higher speed limits. One-size-fits-all just doesn't work when states start setting speed limits. I would have zero problems doing 120 mph or higher between Van Horn and El Paso. Fact is, I've done it. But, let the density of the traffic increase, and I'm slowing way down!

        • (Score: 1) by anubi on Friday March 22 2019, @04:50AM (2 children)

          by anubi (2828) on Friday March 22 2019, @04:50AM (#818306) Journal

          Yeah, my van seems to have a governor in the injection pump. For limiting engine RPM.

          I notice I max out a little over 65 MPH.

          No biggie to me, but I might be a causer of accidents if everyone else is trying to go 80.

          --
          "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
          • (Score: 2) by FatPhil on Friday March 22 2019, @09:51AM

            by FatPhil (863) <pc-soylentNO@SPAMasdf.fi> on Friday March 22 2019, @09:51AM (#818343) Homepage
            Nope. No matter what speed you're driving, as long as you're vehicle's legal for the road and you're legal to drive, it's the fast car oming from behind that is the actual causer of accidents. You might be the causer of surprise or mild annoyance, but 50% of bumper stickers cause way more annoyance, I'm sure. If they're doing 80 and you're doing 65, then you're very easy to overtake. It's the idiot who does 77 who's hard to overtake and causes blockages when you're doing 80. Bastard. Idiot. *beeeep*.
            --
            Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
          • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday March 22 2019, @02:19PM

            by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Friday March 22 2019, @02:19PM (#818402) Journal

            Split speed limits were a thing, in many states, for decades. Ohio, Illinois, Texas, and others permitted cars to travel at some reasonable speed - be it 65, or 70, or whatever. Trucks were restricted to 55, in most of those states, some of them 60. Several studies over many years concluded that split speed limits cost lives, rather than saved lives.

            Since you're not driving a big truck, you don't care too much about how or why the states pass laws for big trucks. But, the REASONS that split speed limits cost lives is of interest to you.

            It's not even difficult. The first obvious fact is, ALL accidents occur in passing situations. Every single multi-vehicle accident, takes place in a passing situation. College freshmen, grad students, even PHD's arrive at the same waypoint, on the route to condemning split speed limits: If you can reduce and/or prevent vehicles from passing each other, you'll have fewer accidents.

            Various studies have arrived at some differing conclusions, after they pass that first waypoint. But, again, they all agree that the greater the difference in the speeds of vehicles on the highway, the more accidents are created, and the more severe those accidents are.

            So - yeah - you're right, at least to some degree. If you aren't keeping up with traffic, you are something of a road hazard.

            But, on the bright side - if you're within 15 miles of the rate of flow, you're not a terrible road hazard. Speed differences greater than 15 mph are universally condemned by pretty much everyone who has looked at the problem seriously. Do your best to blend in, and you should be alright. ;^)

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @06:46PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @06:46PM (#818104)

      No no, you see the limit doesn't apply to him only to reckless drivers who think their shit is more important.

  • (Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @05:26PM (10 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @05:26PM (#818061)

    The day my vehicle tells me that I can't go faster than 73, when I'm headed to the emergency room...

    How often do you go to the emergency room? I mean, besides from being butthurt or overreacting to news?

    Around here the slow lane often does 70 - 75 MPH, and the fast lane is well into the 80's. So I doubt this "feature" would be popular, but just wait until the car sends telemetry data to law enforcement and your insurance company all on its own. The times, they are a changin'.

    • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @05:52PM (6 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @05:52PM (#818079)

      If I'm self-insured, will they send it to me? could be fun to track, but I'm probably not allowed to have it.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @06:01PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @06:01PM (#818087)

        If you pay, they probably will.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @06:32PM (4 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @06:32PM (#818099)

        If I'm self-insured, will they send it to me? could be fun to track, but I'm probably not allowed to have it

        What jurisdiction do you live in that allows self-insurance of motor vehicles?

        • (Score: 4, Informative) by Pslytely Psycho on Thursday March 21 2019, @07:17PM

          by Pslytely Psycho (1218) on Thursday March 21 2019, @07:17PM (#818125)

          Most do.
          Here it requires the following:

          Apply for a certificate of deposit to pay for your liability insurance with the Department of Licensing (www.dol.wa.gov).
          Have a liability bond of at least $60,000 filed by a surety bond company that's authorized to do business in Washington.

          Per the Office of the Insurance Commissioner:
          https://www.insurance.wa.gov/washington-states-mandatory-auto-insurance-law [wa.gov]

          --
          Alex Jones lawyer inspires new TV series: CSI Moron Division.
        • (Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @08:06PM (2 children)

          by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @08:06PM (#818147)

          Similar for CA:

            * Motor vehicle liability insurance policy.
            * Cash deposit of $35,000 with DMV.
            * DMV-issued self-insurance certificate.
            * Surety bond for $35,000 from a company licensed to do business in California.

          I didn't know it could be done by carrying $35,000 cash to the DMV.

          Source: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/pubs/brochures/fast_facts/ffvr18 [ca.gov]

          • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @11:24PM (1 child)

            by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @11:24PM (#818214)

            be an illegal alien and you don't have to do any of that. or even have a license.

            • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 22 2019, @12:18AM

              by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 22 2019, @12:18AM (#818231)

              Better yet, you don't even need a toilet, just shit in the street, on subway, or in a bus!

    • (Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @06:13PM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @06:13PM (#818092)

      What cream should we prescribe for you being afflicted with the postshits due to someone's opinion?

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @09:16PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @09:16PM (#818171)

        Any type of scented Vaseline with a handful of sand in it.

    • (Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Friday March 22 2019, @03:25PM

      by tangomargarine (667) on Friday March 22 2019, @03:25PM (#818437)

      but just wait until the car sends telemetry data to law enforcement and your insurance company all on its own.

      I mean, they already offer optional devices like this with promises of lower car insurance rates. It's just that for now we have the ability to tell them to fuck off with them.

      --
      "Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by JoeMerchant on Thursday March 21 2019, @05:43PM (4 children)

    by JoeMerchant (3937) on Thursday March 21 2019, @05:43PM (#818075)

    Around-about 2010 the InnoCentive crowdsourcing platform put out a (basically) writing challenge regarding new tech in cars. One night after 11pm, I wrote a rambling 3 page screed about what "real" computers could do in cars with tech like OpenCV, etc. and one of those "ideas" was monitoring inside the car for driver alertness, eye-gaze tracking, etc.

    They paid me something like $2000 for the piece, the prize pool was split three ways, I forget if I placed 2nd or 3rd... It was paid for by an un-named automotive manufacturer seeking ideas surrounding new tech in automobiles.

    I'm sure that before and since then they have heard similar ideas from their in-house tech staffers, who get paid a whole lot more than I did.

    --
    🌻🌻 [google.com]
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @06:49PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @06:49PM (#818106)

      Fascinating. Care to share any other epic stories?

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @07:06PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @07:06PM (#818119)

      I got paid for this idea in 2010...

      They paid me something like $2000 for the piece

      That's not enough to buy a new Volvo, which is probably for the best. I doubt you'd want to hear your car tell you "Slow down Joe or I'll tell your wife you're driving too fast again."

    • (Score: 2) by FatPhil on Friday March 22 2019, @10:01AM (1 child)

      by FatPhil (863) <pc-soylentNO@SPAMasdf.fi> on Friday March 22 2019, @10:01AM (#818346) Homepage
      I was working for a semiconductor company in the mid 90s, and automotive was one of the core markets. I can assure you that at that time, neither we nor the customers were thinking of computer vision applications. Having said that, technology moves on at an incredible pace, and a couple of Moore's law doublings suddenly makes the impossible at least imaginable.
      --
      Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
      • (Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Friday March 22 2019, @11:57AM

        by JoeMerchant (3937) on Friday March 22 2019, @11:57AM (#818363)

        The memory is coming into slightly clearer focus, I think the actual timeframe was late 2012, I remember that I didn't actually get paid until well into 2013. The actual topic they were asking about was more toward integration of consumers' BYOD smart phones - things they could do with apps, etc. and I think they mentioned integration with onboard systems. The primary thrust of my paper was that it was past time for onboard systems to move away from those low hardware cost embedded systems they had been peddling since the 1990s and get into a "real" PC with a standard operating system where the software development and maintenance costs were/are lower and the power of what the systems can do is so much higher.

        I pushed the same idea at my day job two years ago and we're building an i7 based system to replace a custom embedded PC + DSP monstrosity from the early 2000s. Hopefully when the "hardware refresh" comes in around 2030, they'll be able to port the software directly to it - we're having to do a ground-up rewrite this time, just like the automakers likely had to do every time they did a hardware refresh of their onboard systems.

        --
        🌻🌻 [google.com]
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @06:20PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @06:20PM (#818096)

    Great, something else to break.

  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by julian on Thursday March 21 2019, @06:59PM (11 children)

    by julian (6003) Subscriber Badge on Thursday March 21 2019, @06:59PM (#818115)

    I'm fine with cameras in cars. If a system makes cars safer, that seems like an obvious good thing. Fewer people dying on our roads is better, even if that means driving is less "fun". I'm fine with that trade off. I'm fine forcing that trade off on others, too. They can bitch and moan all they want but I'm not going to lose any sleep when cars prevents drivers from weaving between lanes going well above the speed limit just so they can get another car ahead and feel like they're at a track day.

    The sooner we have fully self-driving cars, the better. And in 50 years the steering wheel will be gone. Kids will be amazed that humans were ever allowed to manually pilot such dangerous machines and we all just shrugged and accepted casualty rates at the level of a major military conflict, every year, just so driving could be fun and we could indulge in the illusion of human individualism behind the wheel. Cars will drive as fast as they safely can, and no faster.

    So you can't speed to get to the ER faster. But I imagine that cost will be outweighed by people getting to the ER via autonomous car who wouldn't have been able to drive at all. Or maybe we should just try to make the USA into a country where people aren't afraid to call an ambulance for fear of not being able to pay the bill. [nbcnews.com] That's a bigger problem than the absurd hypothetical risk of not being able to speed to the ER, and I imagine what's really been injured here is your misplaced pride in your own driving prowess and good judgement--which is, statistically, absolute shit when it comes to operating a vehicle.

    Humans just aren't very good drivers, by the numbers. And yes, that includes you, bucko.

    • (Score: 5, Insightful) by sjames on Thursday March 21 2019, @07:46PM

      by sjames (2882) on Thursday March 21 2019, @07:46PM (#818135) Journal

      Personally, I just don't care to pay thousands of dollars more for systems whose entire function is to stop me from doing things I don't intend to do and may malfunction and stop me from doing perfectly reasonable things until I spend even more to fix them.

    • (Score: 3, Interesting) by Pslytely Psycho on Thursday March 21 2019, @07:50PM (8 children)

      by Pslytely Psycho (1218) on Thursday March 21 2019, @07:50PM (#818137)

      Fuck that dystopia.

      "Humans just aren't very good drivers, by the numbers. And yes, that includes you, bucko."

      I have a better driving record than Waymo.
      45 years, zero accidents, zero tickets.
      I also spent eleven years training semi-truck drivers out of fifteen driving. 1.2 million documented miles. Zero incidents of any kind, twenty seven driving awards. (awarded monthly among a fleet of approximately 2200 drivers)

      Only place I ever crashed was on the racetrack. Now that was fun, got an upside down trophy once as well..

      Maybe you're ready to bend over and take the cooperate/government dick, but I sure as hell am not ready to surrender ANY of my freedoms. Remember, the government uses sand in their Vaseline..and cameras in your car (or anywhere for that matter) WILL be abused against you.

      Driving to the ER is the only time I would agree there is any merit to self-driving cars. Of course if it's gonna putter around at the speed limit, I'll wait the couple of minutes for an ambulance. If I die waiting for paramedics, I likely would die from being driven to the hospital by a self driving car that is incapable of rendering any life support activity.

      But, enough ranting. it's a beautiful day, Sunny and 65F, only a little snow left, gotta pop the top on the 'Vette and head for the lake......

      Good day to you, but you can keep your dystopia.

      --
      Alex Jones lawyer inspires new TV series: CSI Moron Division.
      • (Score: 4, Insightful) by julian on Thursday March 21 2019, @08:00PM (6 children)

        by julian (6003) Subscriber Badge on Thursday March 21 2019, @08:00PM (#818145)

        Behold, a resident of Lake Wobegon, where every driver is above average--or at least that's the sense you get if you ask each one individually. Which is the point. *Collectively*, humans are bad drivers. And I want to bring down the yearly death rate of the country as a whole. So I'm going to continue ignoring anecdotes of individual exceptionalism.

        • (Score: 1, Flamebait) by Pslytely Psycho on Thursday March 21 2019, @08:22PM (3 children)

          by Pslytely Psycho (1218) on Thursday March 21 2019, @08:22PM (#818155)

          Behold, a corporate drone! Who sells his ass to the overlords.

          And it is quite easy to have a perfect driving record.
          Pay attention, don't drive sleepy or intoxicated, obey the traffic laws. Be a courteous driver. Not that difficult.
          Something you were apparently unable to accomplish. I've failed many morons like you.
          There are many, many people with perfect driving records.
          But we fuck up your rant for complete surrender to the powers that be.
          There are lies, damned lies, and statistics.

          Bend over, and take it like the corporate whore you are. The government is counting on you!

          --
          Alex Jones lawyer inspires new TV series: CSI Moron Division.
          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @09:48PM

            by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @09:48PM (#818181)

            I don't think there is anything overly wrong with self-driving cars, and I highly doubt humans will be prevented from driving. More likely the licensing requirements will go up as the DMV has less volume to handle.

          • (Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Friday March 22 2019, @03:22PM (1 child)

            by tangomargarine (667) on Friday March 22 2019, @03:22PM (#818433)

            Pay attention, don't drive sleepy or intoxicated, obey the traffic laws. Be a courteous driver. Not that difficult.

            There are many, many people with perfect driving records.

            While I agree with not wanting to be monitored and throttled, avoiding any moving violation ever isn't just a question of constant vigilance; it also requires a significant amount of luck. The roads are full of crazy drivers just seeking you out to hit you.

            I'd imagine that if you make it to a certain point without getting in an accident, your odds go way up for a perfect record. Teenagers are dumb and reckless. Some of them grow out of it ;)

            --
            "Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
            • (Score: 2) by Pslytely Psycho on Friday March 22 2019, @03:40PM

              by Pslytely Psycho (1218) on Friday March 22 2019, @03:40PM (#818450)

              It helps with the quality of your original training I think. My father had a perfect record for 70 years. As a professional driver himself, he did three things that have helped me avoid problems. He taught me the Smith System and made me learn in three feet of snow. The third thing was to get me involved in circle track racing, which satisfied the 'need for speed' itch. Learned initially to 'take it to the track.'

                I have been pulled over twice, once for a burned out taillight, resulted in a verbal warning. And one scary guns drawn pull over as my car matched a vehicle fleeing an armed robbery.

              I was, and am, a very boring driver.

              --
              Alex Jones lawyer inspires new TV series: CSI Moron Division.
        • (Score: 2, Funny) by Joe Desertrat on Thursday March 21 2019, @10:06PM (1 child)

          by Joe Desertrat (2454) on Thursday March 21 2019, @10:06PM (#818189)

          And I want to bring down the yearly death rate of the country as a whole.

          Why? We've got about 180 million too many people in the US already. We need some sort of predation to keep the population down.

          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 22 2019, @01:52PM

            by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 22 2019, @01:52PM (#818393)

            Isn't that what the second amendment is for?

      • (Score: 2) by FatPhil on Friday March 22 2019, @11:27AM

        by FatPhil (863) <pc-soylentNO@SPAMasdf.fi> on Friday March 22 2019, @11:27AM (#818356) Homepage
        You're confusing a datum with data. Outliers should not be what policy is based on.
        --
        Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 22 2019, @06:14PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 22 2019, @06:14PM (#818505)

      That is a great plan!

      Please explain how it will work for farm machinery that can use roads, or earthmoving machinery. Oh, and while you're at it, how about all the tow trucks and farm trucks and contracting trucks that all have to do specific, off-road maneuvres but also have to drive on the highways?

      "Siritruck, back 'er up jest two mo' inches ... goldurnit, truck bogged 'erself again. No premium gas for you, truck!"

  • (Score: 2) by leftover on Thursday March 21 2019, @07:51PM (3 children)

    by leftover (2448) on Thursday March 21 2019, @07:51PM (#818140)

    Doesn't Volvo plan to "promise" no deaths in some|any of their vehicles by some date? That promise could certainly drive them to such a draconian measure. It would certainly force consumers to make a clear decision.

    --
    Bent, folded, spindled, and mutilated.
    • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @08:10PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @08:10PM (#818149)

      No deaths? Zero?

      No drivers who might have a corronary? Or with passengers who might?

      No driving volvos on roads with other vehicles that might collide with them?

      No driving volvos on roads near stationary objects the car might hit? Cliffs they might fall off of?

      Or enough "smart car" bits to make all those impossibly fatal? So in built AEDs? (Automatic Electronic Defibrillators) ...

    • (Score: 3, Informative) by Pslytely Psycho on Thursday March 21 2019, @08:34PM

      by Pslytely Psycho (1218) on Thursday March 21 2019, @08:34PM (#818159)

      Yep. By 2020 no less.

      "Volvo has announced that it will limit the top speed of its cars to 180 kph, or 112 mph. The carmaker says it wants to send "a strong signal about the dangers of speeding," and from 2020, no Volvo cars can go faster than that. The limit is part of Volvo's Vision 2020, which aims for zero road deaths or severe injuries in a Volvo by 2020. Polestar models were not mentioned."

      https://www.autoblog.com/2019/03/04/volvo-112-mph-top-speed-limit/ [autoblog.com]

      --
      Alex Jones lawyer inspires new TV series: CSI Moron Division.
    • (Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Friday March 22 2019, @02:55PM

      by tangomargarine (667) on Friday March 22 2019, @02:55PM (#818423)

      no deaths in some|any of their vehicles by some date

      To repeat the old joke from The Other Site, all that means is the vehicle has to eject them in an accident so they die outside.

      --
      "Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @11:12PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @11:12PM (#818210)

    How will it know if you're distracted if you're wearing a burqa?

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @11:17PM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 21 2019, @11:17PM (#818212)

      Silly infidel, Muslim women aren't allowed to drive.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 22 2019, @12:43AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 22 2019, @12:43AM (#818236)

        Didn't you get the memo? Saudi King Salman allowed women to drive around the time his son was ordering the dismemberment of that journalist.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 22 2019, @12:49AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 22 2019, @12:49AM (#818237)

    These numbskulls are making kit cars and self-built cars more attractive by the day.

    Maybe a nice Lotus 7...

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