Self Driving Cars

Without knowing it, we are on the edge of a radical change in driving - the self driving car.  If we define driving as the act of controlling a car then slowly and surely the controlling is being done more by computers that the person sitting behind the wheel.

Is this good?  If it saves lives can it be bad in any way?  Over the next posts I will look at the self driving car from the point of view of someone who has been driving for 42 years, as a race driver, from the point of view of technology, taxes, safety and productivity.  I will look at alternatives and consequences.

Stay tuned.

Signs, Signs, Everywhere there are Signs

From a 60's cult song, it is not true of today's roads.

Yes there are signs, but not enough and the right type.

Here I am out in Illinois.  Their roads are pretty good, but they could use a few more signs.  It does no good to find out what the road is, when you get to it and then have to drive 2 miles to turn around and get back.

Signs may need to be on both sides of the road - again, 3 lane mini-highways you need warnings so you can get over to the right lane.

Airports - signs are good, but  more help is needed.  With most people having smart phones and GPS's, it is easier to find you way, but still more information is needed.

What the sign makers need to do is to actually drive the route at speed, with traffic and see if their signs really are effective.

ChrisZ

Red Light Runners

There is a lot of talk about red light cameras these days. Proponents for this claim that deaths and injuries are reduced with red light cameras. Opponents claim it is just a money making scheme for the towns. As in all cases, the truth is in the middle......

First - Money making it is. And minus a policeman handing out tickets on the spot, may be unconstitutional. You get a ticket in the mail a few weeks later and you have not only lost the opportunity to examine the situation when it happened - how do you confront your accuser? - a camera and a computer?

Second -the statistics seem to show a drop in side impact accidents, but an increase in rear end accidents. Rear end accidents tend to be safer so they consider that a fair trade off.

Here is my take. The real dangerous drivers who run red lights are those who are drunk, sleepy, or careless. Now a camera is not going to change the first two, but maybe will help the third category. But on the other hand, so would a big sign that said "Traffic Light Ahead", because anything that would alert drivers gives them more time to slow down.

On the other hand, once these traffic light cameras locations are known, people may tend to find another route rather than take their chances with traffic camera roulette.

Now think about this, it is not the person who runs the light just as it is changing that is the problem. It is the person who runs the light 2 seconds after traffic has started to cross, that causes the most problems. Giving that person a ticket does not prevent the accident, just documents it.

So if red light cameras are proposed for your area, make sure you look at the timing of the camera. If it is just set to take a picture of anyone in the intersection during a red light, then it is a money making scam. If they properly time the camera and post signs ahead to warn drivers, then they will go broke as drivers obey the law. And if they talk about changing the yellow timing of these lights, tell your legislators NO!

The Beginning

This is a different blog than the "Driving Professor" in that this will deal with the political and economic impact of driving and automobiles.

Enjoy!

ChrisZ