topic Re: Death from Self Driving Car in Among Friends

Death from Self Driving Car

HouseMouse — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 18:58:38 GMT

Who else never ever thought this was a good idea? And now they are talking about self driving SEMI TRUCKS!!

SAN FRANCISCO, March 19 (Reuters) -

A woman died of her injuries after being struck by an Uber self-driving vehicle in Arizona, police said on Monday, and the ride-hailing company said it had suspended its autonomous vehicle program across the United States and Canada.

The accident in Tempe, Arizona, marked the first fatality from a self-driving vehicle, which are still being tested around the globe, and could derail efforts to fast-track the introduction of the new technology in the United States.

At the time of the accident, which occurred overnight Sunday to Monday, the car was in autonomous mode with a vehicle operator behind the wheel, Tempe police said.

"The vehicle was traveling northbound ... when a female walking outside of the crosswalk crossed the road from west to east when she was struck by the Uber vehicle," police said in a statement.

A spokesman for Uber Technologies Inc said the company was suspending its North American tests. In a tweet, Uber expressed its condolences and said the company was fully cooperating with authorities.

Re: Death from Self Driving Car

Laura14 — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 18:13:49 GMT

I just had a rental car after an accident for a month. I hated it!

On the newer cars everything is there "for your convenience". I found it dangerous. I didn't even know how to drive the car because the car was trying to do everything for me.

I have skills, experience, and a license. Let me do it. I guarantee I am more invested in arriving alive than a computer chip is.

Re: Death from Self Driving Car

gabstoomuch — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 18:15:42 GMT

Sounds like the onboard driver that makes sure the car is doing what it should be doing was not on the ball.

Seems he could have overrode the car computer and slammed on the brakes. IF he had seen her.

Cars hit people every day, sometimes it is the drivers fault, and sometimes people try to beat a car that is coming and dash across the street.

The investigation will vet this out. I personally will never, ever ride in a driverless car. May be a generational thing because my son (age 30) says he will when they actually put them on the road. Crazy!

Re: Death from Self Driving Car

millieshops — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 18:20:14 GMT

@HouseMouseThe whole idea scares me, but......I want more statistics. How many accidents per how many of these cars on the roads and how many miles driven.

Because, every single day cars driven by hiuman drivers have fatal accidents, what I want to know is not whether self-driving cars are perfect - they're not.

I just want to know whether they are any better - are they one of the tools that will bring down the massive losses of life we already have or will they just add to the obscene totasl?

Re: Death from Self Driving Car

gabstoomuch — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 18:21:37 GMT

@Laura14I have not rented a new one, but when I look at new cars, I have always had concern that the cars now brake for you if you get to close to a car, or beeps at you if you are too close to the yellow line.

That would drive me into anxiety. I know how to drive. The dashboards look like airplane control panels, I don't like it.

Computer chips fail too, so it might make people complacent in the future that "the car will protect me", and their drving skills will go down.

Re: Death from Self Driving Car

Laura14 — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 18:30:27 GMT

@gabstoomuchwrote:
@Laura14I have not rented a new one, but when I look at new cars, I have always had concern that the cars now brake for you if you get to close to a car, or beeps at you if you are too close to the yellow line.

That would drive me into anxiety. I know how to drive. The dashboards look like airplane control panels, I don't like it.

Computer chips fail too, so it might make people complacent in the future that "the car will protect me", and their drving skills will go down.

@gabstoomuch That is exactly what happened! I was in the car for about a month and my exact words to my sister were, "I am losing my skills."

And the warning beeps scared the you know what out of me and made me jump quite a few times in traffic. Don't need that after being t-boned by an idiot. I know where I am. I know how close. Shut up stupid car and let me drive in peace.

Re: Death from Self Driving Car

BirkiLady — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 18:33:45 GMT

@HouseMouse @gabstoomuch @millieshops @Laura14 Speaking of Uber, I received an email this morning that Uber may offer unlimited services for $199 per month. They are trying to encourage individuals to stop making car payments and use Uber for all their transportation. If I had ever had car payments, that would be a serious consideration. It probably would be much less expensive than insurance, maintenance, gas and parking! Someone is a marketing genius.

Re: Death from Self Driving Car

Laura14 — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 18:38:13 GMT

@BirkiLadywrote:
@HouseMouse @gabstoomuch @millieshops @Laura14 Speaking of Uber, I received an email this morning that Uber may offer unlimited services for $199 per month. They are trying to encourage individuals to stop making car payments and use Uber for all their transportation. If I had ever had car payments, that would be a serious consideration. It probably would be much less expensive than insurance, maintenance, gas and parking! Someone is a marketing genius.

@BirkiLady As much as I want out of owning a car right now (actually seriously looking at moving to a city with good public transportation), I still can't get over the getting into a stranger's car. I just don't trust people.

Re: Death from Self Driving Car

LTT1 — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 18:42:09 GMT

@HouseMouse

JUST IN: Police: Female pedestrian has died after being hit by an Uber self-driving vehicle, which was rolling in autonomous mode with a driver behind the wheel, while she was walking outside of crosswalk while crossing road in Tempe, Arizona.

“ The state has largely taken a hands-off approach, promising that it would help keep the driverless car industry free from regulation. As a result, technology companies have flocked to Arizona to test their self-driving vehicles.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/19/technology/uber-driverless-fatality.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur

Re: Death from Self Driving Car

gardenman — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 18:45:42 GMT

I suspect this was an unavoidable accident. Even the smartest car/driver can't avoid someone jumping in front of them. People do crazy stuff.

Re: Death from Self Driving Car

Justice4all — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 18:49:04 GMT

Is good and public an oxymoron?

Re: Death from Self Driving Car

millieshops — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 18:50:59 GMT

@LTT1Sad, but really no sadder than the death of the driver of the car who killed herself and a pedestrian when she drove her car into the front of a nearby Publix. I didn't see any posts about that accident.

As for the statisc I want, I did just Google and stats for 2016 show over 40,000 deaths from auto accidents - up 6% from 2016. I doubt any of those 2016 stats involve self-driven vehicles, but I admit to not reading deep into the article.

Re: Death from Self Driving Car

dex — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 18:54:09 GMT

@Laura14@We had an uber for a trip home late at night from the airport.The young woman said she is a military wife and mother.She works only when her DH can be home with their 5 kids.She was really sweet to talk with and although her car was very messy we really enjoyed that trip home.

based on that experience I wouldn’t hesitate to try again.

Re: Death from Self Driving Car

Pook — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 19:14:22 GMT

I like driving and would never trust a driverless vehicle. I don't even like riding with someone else so I am usually the one to offer to drive. Driver's will loose their skills and won't even know how to react if needed in a driverless car. Another thing is I can control my vehicle but there will be so much more to watch out for - especially if driverless trucks are allowed.

Re: Death from Self Driving Car

BirkiLady — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 19:19:40 GMT

@Laura14 I've gone as long as four years without driving due to seizures. (I was diagnosed with epilepsy shortly after birth.) Fortunately, my husband was still living and we simply rode to work together. He would drive my car a couple of times a week to keep it mechanically sound, but neither of us expected it to be four long years of unrenting seizures!

After his death, I used taxi's when unable to drive. Fortunately, my son or DIL and great friends also offered to drive me to Dr., DDS and other medical appointments. Taxi's are so expensive when going across town; then having to call them for a return trip 30 minutes later. What a nuisance!

In 2016, once again I had problem with seizures and was unable to drive. This time, my mom was a dementia patient (93) and in ill heath. I needed to be there almost on a daily basis. I checked with Uber and Lift. Almost as expensive as a Taxi, but I felt LESS safe with Uber . . . and the vehicles were a mess. It was creepy calling from a cell phone to who-knows-where.

A neighbor (an attorney) and I shared an Uber one day. The Uber driver asked my neighbor what he did for a living. My neighbor replied, "I'm an attorney." The Uber driver asked, "What kind of an attorney?" My neighbor firmly stated: "The kind who will make sure you receive a ticket if you don't slow down and drive properly." Neither of us have taken an Uber since! (Yet, they are used a lot by business people and Uni. students all . the. time.) Family, friends or a taxi for me if I'm unable to drive again.

Re: Death from Self Driving Car

KentuckyWoman — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 19:23:16 GMT

I think this is a horrible idea. I saw on the news over the weekend that some company out west (maybe AZ) was getting ready to use self driving semi trucks. Good luck with that.

Re: Death from Self Driving Car

Sweet Caroline 1 — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 19:36:22 GMT

Laura14, thats a big 10-4! I want to drive the car and I don't want a computer screen, and all that fru fru fancy stuff. I just like power brakes, air conditioner, radio, air bags and seat belts. Power windows and door locks are nice but I don't have to have them. Don't want leather interrior to dry and crack either.

Re: Death from Self Driving Car

2blonde — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 19:40:55 GMT

@Laura14 ITA! As you may remember, I drive a 6-speed manual shift Mustang. Surely I didn't buy this particular car because I don't like to drive. All I can say, is take away my control, and you take away my fun. If this is what I have to deal with if I get a new car, I may be driving my simple-minded (but fun) 2014 car for a very long time.

Re: Death from Self Driving Car

Laura14 — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 19:43:33 GMT

@2blondewrote:
@Laura14 ITA! As you may remember, I drive a 6-speed manual shift Mustang. Surely I didn't buy this particular car because I don't like to drive. All I can say, is take away my control, and you take away my fun. If this is what I have to deal with if I get a new car, I may be driving my simple-minded (but fun) 2014 car for a very long time.

@2blonde High five! Only five speed Fiat here but I need my control including turning on my own wipers, lights, radio stations, and if I could go back to locking my own car all by my wittle self like a big girl, I'd be golden.

Re: Death from Self Driving Car

2blonde — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 19:51:58 GMT

@Laura14 Ugh. All that stuff would really tick me off. I have 50 years of driving experience. I wonder if computers have driver's intuition (I can smell it when someone is about to cut me off!). I also was wondering about hackers. I mean, what if your ex-husband is a techie and he figures out how to mess with your car's computer...........just sayin'.