OK, who would have the cajones to take hands off the steering wheel?

[markjay]

I think that the simple fact is that anything to do with Tesla (or Elon Musk) has the potential to be turned into clickbait which is why it is so often mentioned in the media (for good and bad).

 

[rf065]

My Audi A8 would happily drive itself, I had no problem with it. Unfortunately, the law in this country forbids this it at the current time.
The car knew this, and would give increasingly fervent 'prods' to get your hands back on the wheel.
I suspect that we are along way off using this technology legally. The technology is not the issue, it is users and mostly, the legal quagmire which will prevent its use.

My w205 does the same, very often I'll remove both hands from the wheel on approach to a bend on the m/way and let the car steer around the bend like normal and wait for any passengers to scream. By the time they've calmed down the car is asking me to take control of the wheel again.

 

[davymead]

Didn’t put you down for a badge snob Davy.

I’m not Ant. Honest.

 

[HappytalkAgain]

I’m not Ant. Honest.

Tbh I’m the same. Just ordered a Sergio Tacchini shell suit & a pair of Adidas Sambas.

 

[davymead]

Tbh I’m the same. Just ordered a Sergio Tacchini shell suit & a pair of Adidas Sambas.

Not too sure about the shell suit …. Sambas are a given

 

[HappytalkAgain]

Not too sure about the shell suit …. Sambas are a given

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Again the industry and the regulators show just how out of touch they are with the realities of motoring.

Pot holes mean that we have to take a cyclist or motorcyclist’s focus or road surfaces to avoid accidents and damage to tyres, wheels and suspension. We simply don’t have the roads in Europe to support this new technology.

And all that’s before we consider whether this system makes any sense in the hands of those who aren’t watching what’s going on around them. Because they’re old, young or distracted by children, phones or whatever.

(I’m reminded of a colleague whose wife rolled her Mercedes off a long straight dual carriageway almost certainly because she had fractious youngsters in the back seat on a long journey back from a half-term break. (She and the two children didn’t survive.)

 

[nyssa7]

My Hyundai has 'autopilot', but I take my hands off the steering wheel for more than 10 seconds, the autopilot deactivates itself (it's a safety feature, apparently).

But generally it does work fine on motorways and A roads.

Interesting, my Ioniq 5 will self steer on motorways for a couple of minutes after which I get a message to put my hands back on the steering wheel

its interesting to be able to show passengers how clever the car is, but as an alternative to actual driving, no

unless I’ve missed something the Mustang is doing nothing more than the I5 is capable of (and no doubt others), but needs the “right” motorway and a mug to pay the subscription fee. More fuss being made by the media that the car ”drives itself“ than of Ford charging a subscription fee for something already fitted to the car. It is the latter that is more important, this is the pointer to manufacturers will make their money out of drivers

 

[davymead]

Possibly an age thing (probably not) but, I just can’t image driving a vehicle without having at least one hand on the steering wheel at any time. It just doesn’t compute.

 

[Tonygw]

How many cars these days have automatic parking?
How many people with this feature actually use it?

Technology for the sake of it..

Nice but pretty useless.

 

[rf065]

How many cars these days have automatic parking?
How many people with this feature actually use it?

Technology for the sake of it..

Nice but pretty useless.

Agreed, but only because its quicker to park it yourself, if/when the technology improves and it can park as fast as a human, I'm sure many would use it.

 

[Tonygw]

Thats exactly my point ?

Technology for the sake of it...
Of course you would use it if it was better than parking yourself. but it isn't, its just to show its possible even though its a complete waste of time.

When they develop a system that's better than doing something your self, then its not for technologies sake, its something worth doing.

 

[clk320x]

To add some other perspective I got home at 2am last night after travelling a long distance to visit a family member in hosptial.

Used Autopilot for the almost the entire 200 mile trip each way (except the local roads) - honestly wouldn’t buy a car without it now.

It makes driving much less tiring.

 

[rf065]

When they develop a system

I think thats the point your missing, it takes time to fully develop systems, plus they have to work within the constraints of the law as it currently stands. Just like driverless cars/busses or lorries, where the systems are in development before the law allows them to be used as intended. You end up with the system only allowed to do a limited amount until everyone is convinced its safe and laws are altered to allow it to fully work to its designed potential.
As an example, I can take my hands off the steering wheel on the m/way and the car will steer itself, even around any bends, but its not allowed to self drive by law, so a warning will come up on the dash instructing me to put my hands back on the steering wheel.

 

[Tonygw]

To add some other perspective I got home at 2am last night after travelling a long distance to visit a family member in hosptial.

Used Autopilot for the almost the entire 200 mile trip each way (except the local roads) - honestly wouldn’t buy a car without it now.

It makes driving much less tiring.

I hope you had a nap on your journey and felt refreshed when you arrived ;-)

 

[Tonygw]

I think thats the point your missing, it takes time to fully develop systems, plus they have to work within the constraints of the law as it currently stands. Just like driverless cars/busses or lorries, where the systems are in development before the law allows them to be used as intended. You end up with the system only allowed to do a limited amount until everyone is convinced its safe and laws are altered to allow it to fully work to its designed potential.
As an example, I can take my hands off the steering wheel on the m/way and the car will steer itself, even around any bends, but its not allowed to self drive by law, so a warning will come up on the dash instructing me to put my hands back on the steering wheel.

No I am not missing that point at all, I am fully aware of how system and products are developed

 

[clk320x]

I hope you had a nap on your journey and felt refreshed when you arrived ;-)

I know you’re being sarcastic but be surprised how much easier it makes it, the same way that cruise control, automatic transmissions & power steering made driving easier/less tiring!

 

[ChrisHGTV]

I know you’re being sarcastic but be surprised how much easier it makes it, the same way that cruise control, automatic transmissions & power steering made driving easier/less tiring!

Did you find yourself drifting off a bit though? That would be my concern - if i suddenly had to intervene and i'd mentally switched off a bit. To be honest i find this with cruise even - i have to more consciously stay alert.

 

[KennyN]

So what are you supposed to do whilst the car is "Auto-Piloting" , cant use your phone as you are still technically driving a vehicle , nothing on Netflix / Prime is that important to me that it couldnt wait till i was home to view it in comfort with a cuppa.

Tried the Nissan Pro Pilot in the wifes Nissan the other day , as far as Tech goes it impressed me but it seems totally pointless if you have to put your hands on the wheel every few seconds , what can you realistic accomplish in the 10 seconds that the car is driving itself.

Have the auto park in the BMW , never used it.

As mentioned previously , seems like tech for tech sake.

K

 

[HappytalkAgain]

…..what can you realistic accomplish in the 10 seconds that the car is driving itself……

(Must resist - must resist - must resist)