Autonomous cars: Atlanta's transportation future? (apartment, taxi cab, vs)

[samiwas1]

Originally Posted by Midpack

Unfortunately human errors and glitches are well known too, it's not as if self driving cars have to be perfect to be an improvement. And after years of improvement, it's getting worse again, presumably with distracted driving on the upswing.

I'm not sure that's really it. The number of deaths is still lower than almost any other time in the last 60 years, even as the population is twice what it was then, and the number of miles driven has increased more than five-fold.

Smartphones became widespread after 2007, yet deaths dropped dramatically. Cars have had radios, AC, etc. for decades. I don't think people suddenly started getting distracted in 2015.

If you look at the data, it's pretty clear that the number of deaths drops dramatically during recessions, and otherwise goes up slightly each year. What we are seeing now is a rebound of more people driving than before due to more people working.

According to NHTSA, the economic cost of motor vehicle crashes (police-reported and unreported) totaled $277 billion in 2010, amounting to almost $897 for every person living in the United States and for 1.9 percent of the U.S Gross Domestic Product.

There were 6.4 million crashes in 2015, 3/4 of which were non-injury. But, with a economic cost of $277 billion, that comes to an average of $44,000 per crash. I dunno...that seems really high.

[brown_dog_us]

There are less fatalities today because cars are made with airbags, crumple zones, and anti-lock brakes. AV is the next technology that will drop fatalities.

[brown_dog_us]

I drove a Tesla on the interstate last weekend in autopilot mode. It was super cool, but I can't see it working out because the driver will eventually stop paying attention (sleep) and something bad will happen. I agree with what midpack said, automakers will skip level 3.

[cqholt]

But the dream of cheap, clean mobility in cities might run up against some harsh realities—soaring energy consumption, supercharged sprawl, and intensified traffic congestion—if AVs are simply deployed to encourage more driving.

https://www.citylab.com/transportati...ilemma/525171/

[tikigod311]

I've always assumed that AVs will more cause sprawl at some level.

But, I think the low cost of a shared AV will limit personal ownership of AVs. It will obviously cost more to go longer distances, so there will be a built in market appeal to stay closer to your destinations. But some will take advantage of the reduced pains of driving and move even farther out.

[primaltech]

I'm in total agreement on that.

The ideal scenario is all 3 of these revolutions in tandem- AV tech, electric power (with the grid itself powered by renewable or nuclear), and a shift to rides-on-demand rather than privately-owned vehicles that you then have to park wherever you go.

As we've discussed in this thread, I'd like to see the road system become essentially a massive all-automated transit system.

[AcidSnake]

Originally Posted by samiwas1

I'm not sure how there could be enough other jobs to fulfill THAT many people, and the scores of others people are so giddy to see lost to automation. I don't care how much these people prepare...I think we really need to start thinking about how we are going to change our economy and existence to deal with tens of millions losing their jobs to automation.

I see a return to subsistence-style lifestyle or a semi-subsistence lifestyle. With people going back to providing for themselves with some assistance from technology. Carpentry, farming, masonry, sewing...those sort of activities.

But I do think that this current Western world resource distribution that depends on mega-Corporations to drive it...needs to be seriously revamped, if not outright retired.

This system has never been truly human & environmentally friendly. And it is ultimately wasteful.

[arjay57]

I can see this coming to pass.

The $5,600 Reason Car-Sharing Will Take Over the World

[Cameron H]

That's totally unrealistic.

Three dollars for a Starbucks coffee in 2031? Fat chance!

[jsvh]

Originally Posted by cqholt

https://www.citylab.com/transportati...ilemma/525171/

Great link.

I think we are already heading towards a "3R" situation though. "Sharing" (Uber / Lyft) is happening now even without automation. Automation will only make the "sharing" model even more efficient.