[TheAmazingIdiot]

An open problem that Google has admitted with their car automation project is a certain problem endemic to the northern part of this country: Snow and Ice.

Admittedly, ice is rather difficult in any condition. However, many human drivers drive safely on snow cover with minimal problems. Accidents are higher during those times, but traffic still keeps flowing. Google-car-AI cannot handle these events at all (at this time).

[blhack]

If we're at a point where having to take manual control of a robot car during icey weather is a problem, then I'd say we are in a pretty good place.

[SoftwareMaven]

I'm not sure I agree. If the only time perole's driving skills are used is during the most treacherous time to be driving, that will be scary.

I already avoid driving during the first snow storm of the season because, after six months, people have inevitably forgotten that ice is slippery (seriously, it a frightening and dangerous to be on the roads during the first storm!). Now factor in the fact nobody has driven at all during the last six months and it will be exceedingly messy.

[protomyth]

The Twin Cities (MN) two year ago had about 400 accidents during the big blizzard at the start of the year. I hesitate to think what would have happened if those folks hadn't had to drive all summer.

[arrrg]

Yeah, that seems like an easy problem to solve, with both technology and regulation. Self-driving cars would only get certified for driving conditions they can handle, so driving below, say, 3°C or with ice or snow on the street would not be allowed if a car can’t handle ice or snow. (I assume that in the foreseeable future all self-driving cars will also have to support some sort of manual driving.) The first condition can even be enforced automatically. When self-driving cars get better those conditions can be relaxed.