[mjolk]

> We all know that early adopters suffer the growing pains of buggy first versions. No reason for all of society to share this burden when It hasn't even been put to a vote.

Humans, when aware, rested, and trained, are far better input devices for cars, I agree.

Where my sympathy for self-driving cars enters is that humans can be distracted by in-car entertainment (phones, screens, other humans or animals), tired/drunk/on drugs, or inexperienced. At least in the US (and several other countries I've visited, but not lived more than a handful of months in), I don't think driving safely is treated as a serious responsibility.

Beyond that, cars are already relatively automated -- steering, braking, traction, transmissions, and acceleration is computer controlled, and my car even tracks its maintenance schedule and various subsystem status, so I think it's somewhat logical that some degree of automation occurs to assist the driver more properly (/safely) operate the machine. At some point, this means normalizing "auto-pilot" functionality.

> Why not segregated roadways? If we're so desperate to automate trucking and shipping, how about big, thick K-rails, and dedicated roadway?

Because massive structural changes would be required. Similar to why buses are the go-to for public transit in developing countries -- four wheels and a relatively flat surface and you're done. Add in the challenge of retrofitting existing routes and our tendency to build large structures along roads and this is hilariously non-trivial.

Further, how would you design the segregated roadway? Do you take an existing lane from a highway? Is this railed-lane protected by barriers to prevent vehicular debris or illegal use? How do the shipping-vehicles exit the highway without blocking/crossing lanes?

[non_repro_blue]

Believe me, I understand that dedicated roadways would become a huge, ridiculous rat's nest of red tape, and pork barrel money pits.

And probably a Robert Moses character might emerge and cause just as many problems re-engineering roadways in broad, callous strokes.

But there's a huge ugly blind spot we're going to unleash upon the world with cars that decide what happens and when, all on their own.

People don't even like when the cops know how many emails are filled with retarded emojis on their phones. People go batshit insane about full disk encryption.

You're all mad if you think this car business going to work out in your favor.