[adrianN]

Self driving cars are not magic and judging their braking distance is not much easier than with a human driver. I think kids trying that will quickly find out that it's not too hard to make an autocar hit a human. In other words, I think the problem would quickly solve itself.

[jdhopeunique]

In bad neighborhoods, the carjackers(might not want a autonomous car though) or robbers might just roll a beach ball into the street to stop the car or maybe just a cheap open umbrella. I can imagine those people who practice "rolling coal" doing the same thing to rich autonomous car riders or just throwing a beach ball out the window on an interstate. Lots of possibilities that security researchers will need to consider.

[adrianN]

Rolling a ball on the street is probably enough to stop human drivers as well. Is carjacking that much of a problem where you live? I've never heard of anybody being carjacked here. I guess you could equip your car with one of these devices if you're concerned:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLhWzMOccTg

[kazinator]

A human driver has a good chance to recognize the situation for what it is and just hit the beachball. (Or heck, the hoodlum himself.)

[adjkant]

Um where do you think this is happening exactly that people know that beachball = carjacking? Based on the language used, I suspect you aren't in such an area and are coming up with an unrealistic scenario here.

[kazinator]

Okay, so we have to suppose we're driving through LA County's Palos Verdes Estates, and a beachball suddenly pops up. Fair enough.

[intended]

anywhere.

i always bring up the examples of thak thak gangs in delhi to show actual threats which become worse with autonomous cars.

i suspect people in the first world who believe in autonomous cars are exposed to a very limited set of uses for roads and cars.

India is the place where the autonomous car dream goes to die.

after that every downgrades the idea to lower than level 5 driving.

[tripzilch]

Given that autonomous vehicles are supposed to lower the amount of traffic accidents, they should be programmed to exclude the lethal traffic accidents which are justified (basic on split-second information, live a little). At least beach balls will be relatively easy to recognize with computer vision. Problem is those pesky hoodlums will start dressing up as beach balls, throwing inflatable dolls in front of cars. And if you think that's a crazy idea, just wait and see what the actual future comes up with.

Honestly, the 21st century is basically clickbait: You won't believe what happens next!

[jopsen]

I guess flame throwers are somehow cooler than installing bullet proof glass :)

[bluGill]

Autonomous cars have a lot of data gathering sensors - even if the car doesn't know something is going on, logs of what happened will greatly aid the police in their efforts to track down the criminal.

If carjacking becomes a problem the cars will figure it out and start locking all the doors. Or if the car is unoccupied, let the carjaker in, then notify the nearest police station it is coming in with a criminal.

[throwaway30yo]

You think an unoccupied car should have the ability to lock people in and take them to the police station?

[tripzilch]

Maybe in situations where someone throws a beach ball in front of your car and your immediate split-second reaction is to turn your car into a murder weapon directed at the first "hoodlum" you spot who may or may not have thrown this ball.

[bluGill]

That is a complex question. I see both sides of the issue and a lot of grey area between (I'd be shocked if I foresee even 10% of all the things philosophers will consider).

I'll just say that it is an option with some merit. Depending on the technology and the local situation I might or might not be in favor of it.

[kelnos]

Not to mention all autonomous cars will undoubtedly have video evidence of what happened. The kids won't have a chance of proving their case if they get hit.