Search the Community

The state of Nevada has approved Google's plan to test its prototype driverless Prius on the infamous Las Vegas Strip and so far, the results have been promising. We know how being in a driverless train feels like, but trains are relatively simple to operate compared to the chaos of driving on roads where imbeciles and drunk bafoons roam. Safer roads According to an article on BBC News, roads will become a safer place. More than 1.2 million people around the world die every year in road accidents and approximately 50 million are injured according to the World Health Organization. I guess having a computer to drive for you will eliminate the need to look at your phone, wondering whether your wife received your message saying you'll be home late and worrying that if she didn't she'd flip out. Having a microchip drive you also prevents you being distracted by the GPS read outs or (if you're a social network freak) Facebook. Whatever it is, the computer will do it for you and you can sit back and enjoy the ride. "Google's car adheres strictly to the speed limit and follows the rules of the road" says Tom Jacobs, a spokesman for the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Who had the privilege of riding shotgun in the Google car. Cars won't speed, they won't crash into each other because they will be able to communicate with one another and sort all the lane changing and slowing down stuff that usually ends up with us humans cursing and swearing at another driver. People will be more productive Well, you won't have to steer or step on the accelerator, so you get to do work. Basically do what you do on a train or a bus and that'll be the same in a driverless car. Fewer traffic jams This was a surprise to me. But apparently the computers will be able to drive the car nearly bumper to bumper and I think that will freak me out more than anything but, yes, fewer traffic jams because cars will be able to regulate speed and distance between one another. But...VIPs still need humans to drive We all know that planes fly on autopilot once reaching cruising altitude, but imagine knowing that your plane is landing or taking off by itself. Most will not will not feel comfortable about that, so when it comes to people with either really deep wallets or immense political power, they'd stick to having a human at the wheel to prevent them from, well, dying.