According to new plans announced by the Department for Transport, the Highway Code is to be updated to allow motorists to take their hands from the wheel and even watch video in slow moving traffic, provided that certain conditions are met.
Under the plans when travelling at under 37mph in a single lane, vehicles capable of autonomy will be allowed to take full control. Though the new rules will not allow the use of a mobile phone, drivers will be able to watch content on their built in entertainment system.
Although initially intended only for motorway use only, the accompanying propaganda makes it clear this is the thin edge of a wedge. I also question the value of an only under 37 mph system for motorways. They do get slow at times, but only rarely do we spend much time at below 37 mph. And will drivers using self drive always switch it off as they leave the motorway and encounter bicycles and pedestrians, or instead finish watching the video?
I already have such a near to qualifying system in my recent Nissan e-car but I don't normally use it since it can be dangerous. Nissan have already admitted that the system cannot be relied on to see bicycles, the main rival Tesla system has the same problem and cars using the latter type of system have already killed two cyclists in the USA. One, an Uber car, didn't even recognise the bicycle side on, mowing down the bike and the woman crossing the road pushing it, killing her.
These systems see cars and adult pedestrians ok, but little seems known about how they cope with two wheelers, small fast moving pedestrians like small children and dogs, or pedestrians holding, carrying or wheeling objects. The systems can even miss seeing very large objects, one Tesla on self drive in the USA failed to see a huge artic crossing the road, drove on at speed under the trailer, chopping off the top half of the car and beheading the driver. Tesla have more recently admitted to the US Department of Transport that their claimed level 5 full self drive system is in fact only level 2, assist with driver remaining in full control .
The announcement was made by Junior Transport Minister Rachel Maclean.
www.rac.co.uk
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Under the plans when travelling at under 37mph in a single lane, vehicles capable of autonomy will be allowed to take full control. Though the new rules will not allow the use of a mobile phone, drivers will be able to watch content on their built in entertainment system.
Although initially intended only for motorway use only, the accompanying propaganda makes it clear this is the thin edge of a wedge. I also question the value of an only under 37 mph system for motorways. They do get slow at times, but only rarely do we spend much time at below 37 mph. And will drivers using self drive always switch it off as they leave the motorway and encounter bicycles and pedestrians, or instead finish watching the video?
I already have such a near to qualifying system in my recent Nissan e-car but I don't normally use it since it can be dangerous. Nissan have already admitted that the system cannot be relied on to see bicycles, the main rival Tesla system has the same problem and cars using the latter type of system have already killed two cyclists in the USA. One, an Uber car, didn't even recognise the bicycle side on, mowing down the bike and the woman crossing the road pushing it, killing her.
These systems see cars and adult pedestrians ok, but little seems known about how they cope with two wheelers, small fast moving pedestrians like small children and dogs, or pedestrians holding, carrying or wheeling objects. The systems can even miss seeing very large objects, one Tesla on self drive in the USA failed to see a huge artic crossing the road, drove on at speed under the trailer, chopping off the top half of the car and beheading the driver. Tesla have more recently admitted to the US Department of Transport that their claimed level 5 full self drive system is in fact only level 2, assist with driver remaining in full control .
The announcement was made by Junior Transport Minister Rachel Maclean.
Highway Code updated to allow 'self-driving' cars on UK roads | RAC Drive
The Government has set out changes to the Highway Code to ensure the first 'self-driving' vehicles are introduced safely on roads across the UK.
www.rac.co.uk
