Hell, I don't feel like I am even really driving if I let the transmission do the shifting for me.

The magic of driving is controlling and soothing that powerful beast with a few deft movements of the hands and feet. Can't do that with an automatic, much less a self driving car.

What is our great nation coming to? Won't someone think of the children, who will never get the satisfaction of stopping over a ton of fast moving steel without touching the brakes?

@1: The way I see this being used is more in an "assisted-driving" way. Just like cars are coming out that can park themselves, I think this will first be used for things like allowing super-human reaction times when emergency braking is required.

The last poll option is racist against robots, just so you know. Anyone who votes for it is a racist.

Think of how great it would be to have a self-delivering and self-returning Zipcar-type service. Also, I can't drive at night because the oncoming headlights are too bright, and this would solve that problem.

@2: You are correct, this will start off as a driver assist. Just like adaptive cruise control, auto braking, and self park are available now. You're going to see cars 10 years from now have an auto drive mode for cruise control. 20 years from now, you may see completely autonomous cars. And 30-40 years from now you will start to see bans of non autonomous cars on certain roadways.

This does have tons of implications for privatized public transit. Imagine how much easier it would be to live without a car if you could log on to a website, put in your location and a destination, and a car came to you and just took you there.

I don't like the idea of being in a self-driving car. I do like the idea of submitting other drivers to them, though. I'd gladly hand over my keys to Chauffeurtron 6000 if it meant all those tailgating motherfuckers on I5 have to do the same.

It would work any place but Seattle, where staggering drunks would wander out of their caravans to throw rocks and scream curses at them "wheeled robots".

So if this does come to pass, and an (inevitable) crash occurs that kills a few people, who will get blamed? Who will get sued?

As a scooter/motorcycle rider I love the idea of being around cars that are actually paying attention to their surroundings, unlike the way it currently works in Seattle.

I love to drive back roads and open freeway, but I would love to let the car handle the commute. I wonder what Cities will do for extra revenue when there are no more run red lots, speeding tickets, or DUIs because of cars doing the driving safely for you.

@8

The laws will have to be written. Most likely they will be written in such a way that the insurance that you purchase will be liable to pay. It's no different than if you were driving, it's just less likely to happen.

@adameros

A lot of the savings will be from not having to pay for cops to enforce those things anymore.

Mr. Gorath: Me, too! Lets be friends.

@8, this is why this will never happen in this US. It's not a technical challenge, it's a liability one. Every governing authority in the country will reject this out of hand. It doesn't matter if it causes fewer crashes; it only matters if it causes one.

I despise driving, and I hate sitting in a car for any length of time, so take my words with a grain of salt. But I can't imagine that the people who are so brainwashed by Madison Avenue and the myth of the Open Road would be into this.

Also, self-driving or not, they would still take up space. They won't solve the congestion issues. and how are they fueled? They don't seem to help with air quality, either, unless they're electric or something.

Where is the Ability to check more than one?

Remember, Google paid a fine of 0.005% of the profit they made from stealing and reselling your data if you used Safari or used an iPhone or iPad to Google even when you chose Do Not Track.

So, you should say "have not crashed or killed anyone THAT we KNOW of" ...

What is Google's business? Search? No. Communications? No. All the YouTube you can eat? No. Automatic cars? No.

Google is in the business of selling advertising. The search, comms, YouTube, and cars are all lures to get you to look at their clients' ads.

You think pay-for-placement ads in your search results suck? Think about how pay-for-taking-over-your-windshield-and-car-stereo ads will *really* suck.

"The Google ads are presented in a heads-up display that will attract the undivided attention of the captive audience."

Also a threat: spammers figuring out how to inject false destinations into your navigation.

"Um, honey? Why are we at the Work From Home Phishy Boner Pill Store?"

"I don't know, but if we hit that target with our car, we get a free iPad."

Of course, that beats Microsoft, who would install Clippy as your driver.

"It looks like you need a personal injury lawyer. Would you like me to Bing that for you?"

Something electric the size of a smart car that drove itself? Fuck yeah!

Ooo..just think of the car problems you get to have in a self-driving-mobile! Error #459767?! What? Why are you re-booting?? Why are the controls locked??? AHHHHH! *crash* *explode* (for some reason).

"If only I hadn't been browsing that sketchy porn site!" Is what I might say...

@8: "who will get blamed? Who will get sued?"

You will. After all, you accepted all responsibility when you agreed to the Google Automatic Self-Driving Car End User License Agreement.

Unlike Paul (and Dan Savage), I actually like driving. I always have. I don't like rush hour commutes, of course. Who does? But give me a car with a bit of zip and a stick shift, and I'm happy. Driving, traffic aside, is an enjoyable experience for me.

I'd miss it.

@8, 14, 21: implementation will be driven by actuaries and the lobbyists of the insurance companies they work for. If the data show a significantly lower accident rate for robot cars, automated-driving mode will be the default. If you wish to take over control yourself for some twisty back road, the satellite transponder will immediately implement a higher insurance rate for the duration of your funsies.

So will we be able to sleep while the car drives its self? Like if I was driving to California could we drive all night and I could sleep like it was a train couchette? If so then I am for!

Google Maps thinks my house is a block away from where it actually is. I hope these two technologies do not overlap significantly.

I agree with 5, but was thinking this morning while on my bike that self driving electric trolleybuses would be fantastic too.

I'll give you my steering wheel when you can pry it from my cold, dead hands!

See also: Brad Templeton's Robocars blog

Up Next:

Self-Driving Bicycles for all the Self-Driving Cars to get stuck behind.

#14

Actually Las Vegas and other municipalities have already approved the Google Car for use on their roads.

It's happening now. As we comment.

Future transit could be roaming auto taxis taking you to the nearest light rail station or aeropolis.

Great idea - assign one to each Asian in SF. The streets will suddenly become safe again.

"It's practically privatized public transit!"
Who needs a blue collar job anyway?