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[Travel] 'Self-driving' cars to be allowed on UK roads this year



Stat Brother

Stat Brother

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Jul 11, 2003
73,870
West west west Sussex
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-56906145


"Self-driving" vehicles could be allowed on UK roads by the end of this year, the government has said.

The Department for Transport said automated lane-keeping systems (ALKS) would be the first type of hands-free driving legalised.

The technology controls the position and speed of a car in a single lane and it will be limited to 37mph (60km/h)

But insurers have warned the government's definition of ALKS as "self-driving" is misleading.
 






GT49er

GT49er

Well-known member
Feb 1, 2009
46,817
Gloucester
Perhaps we'll get self-regulating bicycles soon as well then. Automatically stop at red traffic lights and stop signs, and stop dead when attempting to ride on the pavement ..................




...retreats to safety for the rest of the afternoon.
 




hans kraay fan club

hans kraay fan club

The voice of reason.
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Mar 16, 2005
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Chandlers Ford
Stat Brother said:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-56906145


"Self-driving" vehicles could be allowed on UK roads by the end of this year, the government has said.

The Department for Transport said automated lane-keeping systems (ALKS) would be the first type of hands-free driving legalised.

The technology controls the position and speed of a car in a single lane and it will be limited to 37mph (60km/h)

But insurers have warned the government's definition of ALKS as "self-driving" is misleading.
Click to expand...

My (completely run of the mill) car already does both these things (at whatever speed I set the cruise to) What is the big development here? :shrug:
 




Pavilionaire

Pavilionaire

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2003
30,632
This has got disaster written all over it:

1. Teething troubles (i.e. operating in ice, fog, heavy rain, electric storm) cause million of pounds in insurance claims.
2. You and I pay for that in higher premiums.
 


Stat Brother

Stat Brother

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hans kraay fan club said:
My (completely run of the mill) car already does both these things (at whatever speed I set the cruise to) What is the big development here? :shrug:
Click to expand...

At no point, in the article, is there any reference to similarities with cruise control.
So my guess, from reading the article, is this isn't cruise control.
 


beorhthelm

beorhthelm

A. Virgo, Football Genius
Jul 21, 2003
35,332
on the surface it looks little more than legislation to permit trials, speed restriction would make it of limited practical use.
 




Easy 10

Easy 10

Brain dead MUG SHEEP
Jul 5, 2003
61,789
Location Location
Pavilionaire said:
This has got disaster written all over it:

1. Teething troubles (i.e. operating in ice, fog, heavy rain, electric storm) cause million of pounds in insurance claims.
2. You and I pay for that in higher premiums.
Click to expand...

Not to mention our "smart" motorways, where sometimes the hard shoulder is Lane 1, and sometimes it isn't.

Think I'll take my chances with the ol' manual drives for now.
 


Tim Over Whelmed

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Jul 24, 2007
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Even cruise control now, in some vehicles, will slow or stop you if there's a car or object in front.
 


hans kraay fan club

hans kraay fan club

The voice of reason.
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Mar 16, 2005
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Chandlers Ford
Stat Brother said:
At no point, in the article, is there any reference to similarities with cruise control.
So my guess, from reading the article, is this isn't cruise control.
Click to expand...

Don't be obtuse.

'Controlling the speed of the car' is literally the point and function of cruise control. My car (and obviously millions of others) also has Lane Assist, which automatically keeps you in the centre of any (marked) lane, unless you purposely indicate or steer out of it, and will automatically brake if anything enters the road space in front of me. (The only difference I can obviously see from what I already do on the motorway, and what this development does, is that I'd legally be able to take both hands completely off the wheel, rather than resting one of them loosely on the wheel now.
 




Easy 10

Easy 10

Brain dead MUG SHEEP
Jul 5, 2003
61,789
Location Location
Mustafa said:
Any teething problems were ironed out a decade ago. The technology is ready and has been for some time now.

It won't be a disaster, it will be the opposite. It will be widely adopted in new vehicles and so successful that we will likely see fully automated vehicles become common place within 10 years.
Click to expand...

Umm, well...

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money...-two-dead-texas-and-ignites-blaze/7276828002/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-54175359

https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/2/26/21154502/tesla-autopilot-fatal-crashes
 




studio150

studio150

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Jul 30, 2011
29,662
On the Border
Mustafa said:
Any teething problems were ironed out a decade ago. The technology is ready and has been for some time now.
Click to expand...

Really.

So a vehicle with adaptive cruise control, still works if the front camera is dirty, or does it switch off and the driver have to take over.
How does the lane control work on a smart motorway when lane 1 is closed, or does the driver have to take control

Perhaps you should read the Thatcham reports on ALKS given they are the experts, and then list on here everything that has yet to be ironed out, you will probably be surprised at the length of the list you come up with.
 




dejavuatbtn

dejavuatbtn

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2010
7,228
Henfield
It won’t stop people dying in their cars when braking down on a smart motorway.
I’m sure there are more important technologies to implement in this country.
 


Stat Brother

Stat Brother

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West west west Sussex
hans kraay fan club said:
Don't be obtuse.

'Controlling the speed of the car' is literally the point and function of cruise control. My car (and obviously millions of others) also has Lane Assist, which automatically keeps you in the centre of any (marked) lane, unless you purposely indicate or steer out of it, and will automatically brake if anything enters the road space in front of me. (The only difference I can obviously see from what I already do on the motorway, and what this development does, is that I'd legally be able to take both hands completely off the wheel, rather than resting one of them loosely on the wheel now.
Click to expand...

Does your cars system automatically put on hazard lights and reduce speed to a stop if you fail to respond?
 




Gazwag

Gazwag

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Mar 4, 2004
30,183
Bexhill-on-Sea
That be fun following a robot car for 30 miles along a 60 limit road with no overtaking possibilities, going to be really safe for the impatient drivers stuck behind
 




Stat Brother

Stat Brother

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Jul 11, 2003
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West west west Sussex
I do find the thought of an empty driver seat (where this is heading) somewhat discombobulating.

I think I'm going to need a Johnny Cab:-

Hz-P6FY2_400x400.jpg
 


J

johanngull

New member
Jul 8, 2015
60
Handy if you have had one too many at lunch and want a snooze going home, as long as it doesn't self drive like the wife of course.
 


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