Where we stand right now is that we have self-driving cars
that have logged more than 700,000 miles of accident free driving that started
in 2010.
Without a driver, these cars can carry out everyday tasks
that a normal car requires a human to do.
Michigan, California, Nevada, and Florida are the only
states that currently allow the self-driving car.
It is expected that the Google self-driving car is to be
available to the general public in 2017.
Although these cars are incident free, all vehicular laws
presume that a human is driving the vehicle, and driverless cars are exempt
from these laws.
Not only do we have to change the legislature to use these
cars, we have to look into what these cars are truly capable of.
For testing, there are ten cars total, and while they are on
the road, they require a person in the driver’s seat. In the passenger’s seat
are google engineers who monitor the vehicle.
The reason for the driver is for emergency situations where
the driver would need to take control of the car. The car operates upon an
auto-pilot function which acts like cruise control using Google Maps to
traverse towns, cities, and even state lines.
Why do we let the cars dictate where we go and how fast we
get there? Why are we so willing to hand our freedom to self-driving cars?
Is it morally permissible to put our lives into the hands of
a computer? Why are jumping so fast to give up our free will to a computer that wouldn't know the difference of if we got into the car rather than a complete stranger?
Really enjoyed reading this, we are so accustomed to technology now that we would choose a computer over a human any day.
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed reading this, we are so accustomed to technology now that we would choose a computer over a human any day.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the result of large numbers of these vehicles would be a reduction in traffic mortality. But it'll also move us a step closer to Wall-ee world. I'm gonna keep my hands on the wheel!
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