US Senate Panel Puts Self-Driving Cars in Fast Lane

[Megalith]

A US Senate panel unanimously gave the green light to a bill aimed at speeding the use of self-driving cars without human controls, a measure that also bars states from imposing regulatory road blocks. The bill still must clear a Senate vote, but it appears on track to passage. This should rev up profits for automakers, technology companies and ride service providers, hastening the day when their robot cars can carry passengers on the same US roads as cars driven by people.

Automakers would be able to win exemptions from safety rules that require human controls. States could set rules on registration, licensing, liability, insurance and safety inspections, but not performance standards. Senator John Thune, the Republican who chairs the Commerce Committee, said the bill “underscores the bipartisan desire to move ahead with self-driving vehicle technology.... The safety and economic benefits of self-driving vehicles are too critical to delay.”

 

[katanaD]

The safety and economic benefits of self-driving vehicles are too critical to delay

there is soo little info on self driving cars yet to really make that declaration

but the item detailing how states cannot set performance standards is what catches my eye. sounds like they are setting up a loop hole potentially for new vehicles to be classified "self driving" so they could be exempt from current standards

IMO

 

[Monkey God]

My concern is that they are allowing them to bypass standard Federal safety standards. Can't wait until people start dying and everyone's like "WTF they dont have to follow Federal DOT Safety rules?"

 

[PaulP]

"Performance Standards" == Safety Regulations
Individual states currently license drivers based on their own laws. I don't know why this should be different for software. The Federal government has no business sticking their noses in here. The states should definitely push back on this issue.

 

[Nanogrip]

If you want to be in a self-driving car, get a taxi or go in a bus. Can't spare the attention span to drive a car, then DON'T BUY A CAR.

 

[Revdarian]

If you want to be in a self-driving car, get a taxi or go in a bus. Can't spare the attention span to drive a car, then DON'T BUY A CAR.

CLOUDS! WHY ARE YOU NOT LETTING ENOUGH SUN ON TOP OF ME? GET OUT CLOUDS, I AM WARNING YOU!

 

[Drakensoul]

If you want to be in a self-driving car, get a taxi or go in a bus. Can't spare the attention span to drive a car, then DON'T BUY A CAR.

Unless of course you simply want a self-driving car. Not a taxi, and not a bus. In which case one would..... buy a self-driving car.

 

[M76]

If you want to be in a self-driving car, get a taxi or go in a bus. Can't spare the attention span to drive a car, then DON'T BUY A CAR.

It's not about you not wanting to drive a car. It's about removing human drivers from the equation entirely so we can enjoy a congestion free, accident free commute to work every day.

 

[Jagger100]

It's not about you not wanting to drive a car. It's about removing human drivers from the equation entirely so we can enjoy a congestion free, accident free commute to work every day.

Microsoft 95 made steel. Yeah, that'll be congestion free, accident free.

 

[M76]

Microsoft 95 made steel. Yeah, that'll be congestion free, accident free.

I know, everyone fears the unknown. But there is a cure for that.

 

[Jagger100]

I know, everyone fears the unknown. But there is a cure for that.

Oh the irony.

 

[viper1152012]

Should be a driverless dedicated lane. Just to show how well it works.

 

[M76]

Oh the irony.

Indeed.

If you were familiar with the technology then you'd know why is it better than regular folks driving.
So being against it can only mean not understanding it.
Hell you don't even have to be familiar with the technology, you just have to be aware of why people are generally unreliable drivers.

So the only possible explanation for why someone is against self driving cars is ignorance.

Even if you consider yourself the best possible driver in the world, you'd still have to concede that there are tons of drivers who are just unfit to be on the road under any circumstances. A 8bit computer would drive better than they do.

 

[Gordo74]

there is soo little info on self driving cars yet to really make that declaration

IMO

Glad you put "IMO" because I'm pretty sure none of us are scientists which have access to and can interpret the data that is out there.