PhatPhlatSix

Unfortunately this will happen. Once electric, and also driverless, vehicles become established, it will be uncool and one day criminal to drive the old unsafe, polluting behemoths. Just look what happened to cigarette smoking....

robt964

I would rather friggin walk than entertain the idea of a driverless car. If provided as a 'public transport' and confined to the very centre of large cities I could just about tolerate it (but still not use it). Nothing gets on my goat more than this concept. A pointless technology for those who prefer an empty existence, devoid of the richness of real life.

Navaros911

Freedom!!!

Oh, euhm, hang on a minute.... NOT!

Canneryrow

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
C.S.Lewis.

Gus

Now that was good - Lewis paints a clear picture with words. Where are the 1960's?

cobalt

Well sadly Obama has achieved his goal. After meeting him back in the 80's I knew he was trouble and I have threads from before he was elected stating he will attack and destroy our individual freedoms to bring everyone down the the same level for the good of his vision of the whole. The educated and morons alike have equal say in how our children's future will be handled. Right and wrong redefined to one individual's design. As far as I am concerned we have nobody to blame but ourselves for not standing up to his tyranny. Sadly now we have a menagerie of imbeciles battling out how our future will be further ruined. I wish the days of the lesser of two evils was back. I feel sorry for our children but they won't know what they have lost.

Saddly in the interest of the masses independent thought will be frowned upon disguised as the protection of our freedoms and if you are not one of the masses being driven around in a driverless car void of original thought you are the enemy. I have no doubt this is not what our founding fathers had in mind.

I find this all so sad but even the Audi club has taken it to the next level and this is part of their bylaws. Where does it go from here?


Sorry for the rant but our future is not the bright one I was promised and grew up believing in.

Madturk

Unfortunately there is demand for electric vehicles. Without it there wouldn't be any. We will always be able to drive our cars. However, when the day comes most vehicles are electric and driverless our insurance rates will be outrages.

Madturk

Ohh and move to Montana or ND or something where no one gives a **** because they all drive big diesel trucks that smokes like a factory
I fell for the California people.

kokolyia

I really don't think driverless cars are the future. Humans tend to like some feeling of control and most companies (except Google) know this. What is probably going to happen is newer cars will have the ability to switch to manual mode or autonomous mode. Audi has already developed an RS7 concept that does exactly that. As long as there are car people and companies, driverless cars will not take over. Here's hoping I never have to eat those words...

cobalt

Maybe not but I can see legislation to mandate HOV lanes at some point requiring X number of people and driverless electric cars only. After watching my son take his driver's test last year knowing he already was a superior driver to the average idiot on the road and seeing people needing 7 or 8 tries to parallel park in a 30 foot long parking space and still pass maybe it isn't such a bad thing.

DobermanDad

The way people drive now, doesn't surprise me there are going to be driverless cars. From what I see all people want to do when there in their cars now is use their smartphone. No one pays attention. I see that b.s. every time I drive now. The new generation is even worse. Face it, the idiots are taking over.

LPMM

Am I the only one seeing the irony in this? Why even bother attending a driving school/clinic if you prefer autonomous/driverless car?

They already have, they are simply extending their reach.

PhatPhlatSix

Another thing that is happening is that our roads are becoming more and more crowded. Sorry to sound like the eternal pessimist but, one day in the not too distant future we will be in constant bumper to bumper traffic. This already exists in cities during rush hour... but it is spreading to motorway infrasturctures - anyone living in UK southeast, just take a look at the M25, M4, M3, M1 in the morning and evening. The ever increasing population and city spread makes this worse.

So soon we will be in bumper to bumper everywhere we go. What'll then be the point of driving when the car can do it for you? Personally I hope I'm long dead before this happens, but it will.... unless we find another planet to export people to.

We need to enjoy this driving lark while we still can.

cobalt

http://www.roadandtrack.com/motorspo...ctually-means/

kokolyia

I really don't understand the people who use their phones while driving! In my opinion, the best thing to combat texting and driving is to force everyone to drive a manual. Send that text if you want but your engine will blow