RE: UK driverless car trials from January
Wednesday 30th July 2014
Driverless cars will be on British roads in less than six months. Really. That's not far away, is it?
These aren't on the way just yet!The strategy is being championed by Business Secretary Vince Cable, who says of the plan: "The excellence of our scientists and engineers has established the UK as a pioneer in the development of driverless vehicles. Today's announcement will see driverless cars take to our streets in less than six months, putting us at the forefront of this transformational technology and opening up new opportunities for our economy and society".
UK driverless car trials from January
Up to three cities will receive funding for testing with autonomous cars
But don't worry, nobody is being turfed out of their car anytime soon. Driverless vehicles will be trialled in cities across Britain for between 18 and 36 months from the new year. The Technology Strategy Board has set aside £10m to be allocated for up to three cities to host the trials. They have until October 1 to apply, with the government keen for collaboration between local councils, businesses and research organisations for comprehensive proposals.
These aren't on the way just yet!
And there's support from the Transport Minister Claire Perry too, unsurprisingly. "Driverless cars have huge potential to transform the UK's transport network - they could improve safety, reduce congestion and lower emissions, particularly CO2. We are determined to ensure driverless cars can fulfil this potential".
Hmm. It appears a significant step in the progress of autonomous cars. That's the story, no doubt there will be a few opinions on the scheme...
Discussion
steve2864169 said:
I imagine taxi drivers might have something to say about this. Would they find themselves out of a job?
No one will be able to drive eventually. This is the beginning of the end. Insurance companies will consider people who want to drive themselves as an additional high risk, premiums will go up until no one can afford it, but sadly theres nothing any of us can do about it. Police State said:
More control, less individual freedom.
My kind of state...
They don't need driverless cars for that. The technology already exists. The same reasons we don't have universal tracking of cars will see to that.My kind of state...
Salterns said:
No one will be able to drive eventually. This is the beginning of the end. Insurance companies will consider people who want to drive themselves as an additional high risk, premiums will go up until no one can afford it, but sadly theres nothing any of us can do about it.
That makes no sense at all. Why would insurance companies keep putting prices up until they no longer have any business. They will only do that if costs go up for some reason. More likely costs will go down for most of us as drivers who don't want to drive, so pay no attention, stop having accidents with good drivers. Fortunately most of the idiots who love driving but have allot of accidents (Mostly young men) tend not to be the ones who pull out or shunt others, but crash in to ditches so only increase their own costs.Theallotmentman said:
This is a joke. What will they do when two meet down a Dorset lane.
Exactly the same as human drivers, I imagine, but without at least one of them coming to a sharp stop having been going to fast, and only needing 1mm of clearance rather than 2 feet as half the drivers seem to need.Edited by SteveSteveson on Wednesday 30th July 15:59
Theallotmentman said:
This is a joke. What will they do when two meet down a Dorset lane. Will one back up two miles to the first available passing place?
I'd imagine they could deal with that situation much better than a human driver because there is no confusion associated with reversing for a computer - if the vehicle was stable doing it they could happily reverse as fast as they could drive forwards (although it might be a bit odd for the passengers).A Scotsman said:
I really fail to understand how a government could so consistently get its priorities wrong.
How is the government getting its priorities wrong?Basically its allowing the engineers to make the cars in the future. With out this change in the law we would not be able to work on the better technologies and the British contribution to motoring would be limited to track focused technology.
Can't wait for this, will be fantastic when London is full of Tesla's driven by Google's tech booked through Uber's app. Sod the cabbies, that sounds awesome. Also like the idea ofd being able to hoon it down to the pub then get my car to drive me home when I'm absolutely sozzled.
Oh and that moron in his artic wouldn't have driven over my Porsche.
Oh and that moron in his artic wouldn't have driven over my Porsche.
MajorProblem said:
What's gonna happen if you're stuck behind one on a country lane? Could you just ram it off the road and no one would know?
I imagine if they where on the motorway with no driver then they could become targets for bricks thrown from overbridges.
I suspect the high-tech camera system that will be fitted to such vehicles will 'grass you up' :-)I imagine if they where on the motorway with no driver then they could become targets for bricks thrown from overbridges.
Anyone throwing bricks at a moving vehicle whether it is manned or not will be treated the same I presume.
MajorProblem said:
I imagine if they where on the motorway with no driver then they could become targets for bricks thrown from overbridges.
Are you sure it's not just a lack of infrastructure maintenance ?? 
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffords...
The private contractors do leave a lot to be desired
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