LETTER

Self-driving cars?

 

With all the talk lately about the (very near) future driverless car, it's making me think about attendant obstacles or complications. In my questions below, I am assuming that all vehicles on the road are self-driving. As long as there would be a mix of vehicles - human drivers and driverless - there will always be road collisions!  

1) Will this car be able to recognize something as small as a squirrel crossing the road and will it swerve or stop?  (What will happen to the unprepared occupants of the car?)

2) Will our self-driving car-of-the-future know to avoid potholes in the road?  (Garages would like the increase in business!)

3) Will a driverless car allow a blind person to get behind the wheel? (I'm assuming cars this advanced will be programmed by audible instruction for destination.)

4) If cars are operated automatically in the future, will there be a need for a driver's licence?

5) Will a child of, say, age 10, be permitted to get behind the wheel?  (As long as he is "at the age of reason", it doesn't matter if he can't see over the steering wheel.  It's self-driving!)

6) In a self-driving world, how will cities and provinces deal with the loss in revenues (no traffic violations - no speeding, no distracted driving, no impaired driving)? (The only revenue source will be parking tickets.)

7) Will there continue to be a need for auto insurance?

I'm sure there are implications to the introduction of this future car that I have not considered.  I will leave it to your readers to point them out.

Steve d'Eça
Aylmer