Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by atleastoptimal 302 days ago
Thousands have died directly due to known defects in manufactured cars. Those companies (Ford, others) still are operating today.

Even if driverless cars killed more people than humans they would see mass adoption eventually. However they are subject to farr higher scrutiny than human drivers and even so make fewer mistakes, avoid accidents more frequently and can't get drunk, tired, angry, or distracted.
2 comments
mejutoco 302 days ago
There is a fetish for technology that sometimes we are not aware of. On average there might be less accidents, but if specific accidents were preventable and now they happen, people will sue. And who will take the blame? The day the company takes the blame is the day self-driving exists IMO.
link
notyourav 302 days ago
A faulty break pad or an engine doesn’t take decisions that might endanger people. Self-driving cars do. They might also get hacked pretty thoroughly.

For the same reason, I’d probably never buy a home robot with more capabilities then a vacuum cleaner.

link
atleastoptimal 302 days ago
Current non-self-driving cars on the road can be hacked

https://www.wired.com/story/kia-web-vulnerability-vehicle-ha...

But even if they can theoretically be hacked, so far Waymos are still safer and more reliable than human drivers. The biggest danger someone has riding in one is someone destroying it for vindictive reasons.

link