Vehicle Technology – Cars Driving Themselves?

We already have the Ford Focus that parks itself, and now apparently the next generation of BMW’s, Mercedes and Audi’s will be able to drive themselves in slow moving traffic. The new technology is being seen as the first step towards vehicles driving themselves at higher speeds.

This to me sounds crazy and will never be fully introduced. When learning to drive have you ever been told learning to drive the car is the easy bit, the harder task is to anticipate what other road users are doing. So could a machine ever ready take over completely?

These new cars will be ‘semi-autonomous’ and be able to travel up to 25mph , steering themselves as well as stopping and accelerating to mimic the vehicles in front. Supposedly, taking the stress out of driving in heavy traffic. The technology uses a camera secured to the front of the car which will follow the vehicle in front and monitor the white lines in the road. They will also use an inbuilt satellite navigation system to have a greater understanding of the roads. But we all know what sat navs are like, I’ve personally had 4 different makes to date and none of them have been anywhere near perfect. What happens if there are no white lines in the road? Or if the car in front takes a last minute diversion? Apparently the technology will be able to recognise this but I find this hard to believe.

Reviews say this technology will enable drivers to ‘take their eyes off the road and feet off the pedals’. But the Road Laws will also not be changing. At no point are you able to drive without ‘due care and attention’, meaning your eyes have to be on the road at all times, feet at least near the pedals, and BOTH hands on the steering wheel. So what on earth is the point?! Surely automatics were and still are the answer to stress free driving in traffic. Ford are even set to include sensors on the steering wheel so if even one hand comes off the wheel it’ll beep. And how off-putting would it be when holding the steering wheel it suddenly starts turning! How are you supposed to then still keep both hands on it? This technology is nothing but a crazy gimmick that we have no use or need for.

In 2015 General Motors (owners of Vauxhall), say they will have manufactured a car that will be able to do the same on motorways at any given speed limit. But say a driver is a little tired and they use this system to relax, but accidently nod off, what happens then? Presumably the car would be fine for a time, following the white lines if they are there, and keeping a safe distance from the car ahead. But what then happens when the motorway comes to an end or it enters a section of the motorway with road works where the white lines have made way for Catseyes? I don’t think technology can or will ever be able to safely release drivers from their responsibilities, and it’s irresponsible for this technology to be making it’s way onto our roads.

Currently there are teething problems anyway with some systems not working in the rain and at night as well as when road marking become faded or disappear completely as I said earlier. At these times they say the car will alert the driver to take back control – but will the driver be able to react in time?

A system that should never be introduced.