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posted by Fnord666 on Monday March 13 2017, @11:44AM   Printer-friendly
from the maybe-they-saw-I,Robot dept.

Submitted via IRC for TheMightyBuzzard

A new report from AAA reveals that the majority of U.S. drivers seek autonomous technologies in their next vehicle, but they continue to fear the fully self-driving car. Despite the prospect that autonomous vehicles will be safer, more efficient and more convenient than their human-driven counterparts, three-quarters of U.S. drivers report feeling afraid to ride in a self-driving car, and only 10 percent report that they'd actually feel safer sharing the roads with driverless vehicles. As automakers press forward in the development of autonomous vehicles, AAA urges the gradual, safe introduction of these technologies to ensure that American drivers are informed, prepared and comfortable with this shift in mobility.

"A great race towards autonomy is underway and companies are vying to introduce the first driverless cars to our roadways," said Greg Brannon, AAA's director of Automotive Engineering and Industry Relations. "However, while U.S. drivers are eager to buy vehicles equipped with autonomous technology, they continue to fear a fully self-driving vehicle."

n 2016, a AAA survey found that three-quarters of Americans reported feeling afraid to ride in a self-driving car. One year later, a new AAA survey found that fear is unchanged. While the majority are afraid to ride in a fully self-driving vehicle, the latest survey also found that the majority (59%) of Americans are keen to have autonomous features in their next vehicle. This marked contrast suggests that American drivers are ready embrace autonomous technology, but they are not yet ready to give up full control.

"U.S. drivers may experience the driver assistance technologies in their cars today and feel they don't work consistently enough to replace a human driver – and they're correct," continued Brannon. "While these technologies will continue to improve over time, it's important that consumers understand that today's systems require your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel."

Source: http://newsroom.aaa.com/2017/03/americans-feel-unsafe-sharing-road-fully-self-driving-cars/


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  • (Score: 2, Interesting) by ewk on Monday March 13 2017, @12:55PM (5 children)

    by ewk (5923) on Monday March 13 2017, @12:55PM (#478374)

    I guess that depends on how that autonomous technology is told to behave...
    1) to protect the meatbags inside the vehicle to its maximum ability (even at the cost of sacrificing some meatbags outside the vehicle), or
    2) (in case of mishap) minimize the damage to the total of meatbags in- and outside the particular vehicle (perhaps even at the cost of sacrificing some/all of the meatbags inside that vehicle).

    I know (as meatbag inside MY vehcile) I'd prefer number 1.

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    I don't always react, but when I do, I do it on SoylentNews
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  • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Monday March 13 2017, @03:44PM (1 child)

    Yup. There is no circumstance that would ever cause me to enter a vehicle that did not put my life above all others. Any sacrifices of my life should be decided by myself and nobody/nothing else.

    --
    My rights don't end where your fear begins.
    • (Score: 1) by ewk on Tuesday March 14 2017, @07:16AM

      by ewk (5923) on Tuesday March 14 2017, @07:16AM (#478800)

      "Any sacrifices of my life should be decided by myself and nobody/nothing else."

      Yeah... that's kind of the way our civilization manifested itself.
      Decisions instead of instinct.
      And some decisions imply sacrifice. Other don't.
      If you don't like that, it does not make it any less truthful.

      --
      I don't always react, but when I do, I do it on SoylentNews
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 13 2017, @04:03PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 13 2017, @04:03PM (#478465)

    Yay, the trolley problem.

    The most interesting assumption is that the car is going to immediately know the age, career, marital status, etc of every meatbag anywhere near it, including that infant that's riding in one of the vehicles' passenger seats it can't see.

    Some predictions. Ok, folks. The trolley problem is not going to happen. It is not going to happen. Stop masturbating to it already. The car is going to be driving more carefully than you even knew was possible (maintaining *gasp* FOLLOWING DISTANCE!! and *gasp* DRIVING A SAFE SPEED FOR CONDITIONS), and even then why would somebody program a car to risk its occupants over some theoretical meatbag count we can't even be sure is complete?

    Yeah, yeah, yeah I know what it is. You think this is that episode of star trek where people walk into death booths as casualties of a wargame. Evil liberals are going to force you into a car that's going to kill you and call you racist if you don't like it. Blablabla

    • (Score: 1) by ewk on Tuesday March 14 2017, @07:22AM (1 child)

      by ewk (5923) on Tuesday March 14 2017, @07:22AM (#478802)

      "The most interesting assumption is that the car is going to immediately know the age, career, marital status, etc of every meatbag anywhere near it, including that infant that's riding in one of the vehicles' passenger seats it can't see."

      Some other prediction (ooh... this can become a fun game):

      Welcome to the world of big data and the mandatory chip in your brain.
      The mothership KNOWS all of the above and makes the decision for your trolley.
      Have a happy ride...

      --
      I don't always react, but when I do, I do it on SoylentNews
      • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Tuesday March 14 2017, @04:28PM

        by bob_super (1357) on Tuesday March 14 2017, @04:28PM (#478979)

        Actually, courtesy of big data tracking everyone everywhere, the computers will use your kids' brain GPS/accelerometer implant to know that they're about to cross the street in front of the car.

        The car will know to stop before it's even got visual on the kid.
        To learn from what almost happened, the kid will get one hit from the implant shock collar.
        The car's external billboards will then play an ad trumpeting how its advanced safety features saved another injury, just in case passerbys missed it. All passerbys will be logged as having seen the event, and follow-up advertising for the car will be broadcast to them for the next three years, and any time they say the words "new car".

        Everyone will be safe in the best of all possible worlds.