tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030220433025894048.post1292656134866726838..comments2023-11-03T08:02:25.369-04:00Comments on AmericanScience: A Team Blog: Ease on Down Them Cyborg Highways . . .David Roth Singermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12841041983824755867noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030220433025894048.post-83274589636422450592012-05-17T01:06:32.299-04:002012-05-17T01:06:32.299-04:00Hi, Hank. I've only heard advocates of driverl...Hi, Hank. I've only heard advocates of driverless cars call upon the distraction argument in conversation. In the same conversation—a meeting of LessWrong—people pointed out that driverless cars are far more fuel efficient than human drivers. And engineers are exploring the driverless caravan option (http://wardsauto.com/ar/driverless_car_test_101201), in which cars would align on the highway and essentially draft off of each other. Drivers might still maintain control off the highway. This choice would greatly increase fuel efficiency on the highway.<br /><br />What I find again and again in my research is that US advocates of re-making or regulating the car do not engage with advocates of decreasing car use (an option that was virtually left off the table in 1970s auto policy discussions). Yet, we all know that there are lively communities—especially urban communities—dedicated to doing away with the car. If, for instance, LessWronger autonomous car advocates and urban anti-car folks came together under the banner of some interest group, would we experience a differently shaped regulatory environment? Maybe. But that would be quite a departure from the US norm.Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14164091550633430973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1030220433025894048.post-41854196659509686682012-05-16T10:32:38.207-04:002012-05-16T10:32:38.207-04:00Thanks Lee. Are advocates of driverless cars in *f...Thanks Lee. Are advocates of driverless cars in *fact* drawing on the biologized/pathologized/medicalized rhetoric surrounding distraction? That would be a pretty interesting development, and would link up the two stories you began with.<br /><br />Also, what's the connection (if any) between those proffering a driverless vision a la Minority Report and those simply opposed to individual automobiles and in favor of improving and expanding light rail and other forms of mass transit? <br /><br />I ask because I think you're right that driverless vehicles does occupy a middle ground in terms of autonomy between cars and trains (or whatever). If advocates of driverless cars were teaming up with advocates of light rail, that might complicate that spectrum in interesting ways. Any thoughts?Hankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02841787256060612291noreply@blogger.com