Mercedes first to sell Level 3 self-driving vehicles in Cali

Mercedes first to sell Level 3 self-driving vehicles in Cali

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youngsyr

Original Poster:

14,742 posts

199 months

Saturday 10th June 2023
quotequote all
https://www.engadget.com/mercedes-becomes-the-firs...

An interesting development that I couldn't find a thread on elsewhere.

Article said:
Drive Pilot will allow Mercedes-Benz drivers to takes their eyes off the road and hands off the wheel, then do other non-driving activities like watching videos and texting. If the rules for use are followed, Mercedes (and not the driver) will be legally responsible for any accident that happens.

Nomme de Plum

6,075 posts

23 months

Saturday 10th June 2023
quotequote all
Very strict limitations to its use.

In California.

In heavy traffic and under 40mph.

Mercedes takes liability in the event of an accident.

Step the right direction though.

youngsyr

Original Poster:

14,742 posts

199 months

Saturday 10th June 2023
quotequote all
Nomme de Plum said:
Very strict limitations to its use.

In California.

In heavy traffic and under 40mph.

Mercedes takes liability in the event of an accident.

Step the right direction though.
Very strict limitations, but it is a massive step forward. It's broken down the door to the next stage in automated driving.

kambites

68,438 posts

228 months

Saturday 10th June 2023
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I think people tend to underestimate just how much of a step level-3 automation is from the level-2 systems we've become used to seeing over the last decade or so.

Nomme de Plum

6,075 posts

23 months

Saturday 10th June 2023
quotequote all
youngsyr said:
Very strict limitations, but it is a massive step forward. It's broken down the door to the next stage in automated driving.
Quite brave of Mercedes. Expect lots of flack when an accident inevitably occurs irrespective of responsibility.

Realistically it will be several decades before EVs become sufficiently prevalent to really make a big difference. Be great if our motorways could be made to flow without constant stop start.

Maybe we will see it here in a decade.

kambites

68,438 posts

228 months

Saturday 10th June 2023
quotequote all
Automation has nothing to do with electrification except for them coincidentally happening at roughly the same time.

Nomme de Plum

6,075 posts

23 months

Saturday 10th June 2023
quotequote all
kambites said:
Automation has nothing to do with electrification except for them coincidentally happening at roughly the same time.
True but it is easier to implement in an EV as much of the engineering has already shifted from analogue mechanical to electronic.


Dogwatch

6,274 posts

229 months

Saturday 10th June 2023
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kambites said:
Automation has nothing to do with electrification except for them coincidentally happening at roughly the same time.
Adding a few more sensors and another processor to a computer on wheels. Not a problem.

Nomme de Plum

6,075 posts

23 months

Saturday 10th June 2023
quotequote all
Dogwatch said:
kambites said:
Automation has nothing to do with electrification except for them coincidentally happening at roughly the same time.
Adding a few more sensors and another processor to a computer on wheels. Not a problem.
You may need a few actuators to carry out the function that the human normally carries out dependent on the model to be automated.



joropug

2,700 posts

196 months

Saturday 10th June 2023
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Will differ per legal system but say you make a mistake driving and kill someone…you could end up in prison depending on the circumstances.

If a company takes liability it’s clear from a financial side but I wonder if there is any risk of prison for a staff member or leader? Wonder how they will protect themselves in that instance

Glade

4,319 posts

230 months

Sunday 11th June 2023
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The automated system isn't going to drive like a bellend though. It won't recklessly or willfully murder someone.

Highly unlikely to be racing off the lights.

All journeys recorded and the logic and reason it makes decisions well-defined with some sort of safety factor.

If that is approved for use how could the operator be held liable.

More than likely these automated cars will dither about like an old lady in the first iteration.


Edited by Glade on Sunday 11th June 09:04

youngsyr

Original Poster:

14,742 posts

199 months

Sunday 11th June 2023
quotequote all
Glade said:
The automated system isn't going to drive like a bellend though. It won't recklessly or willfully murder someone.

Highly unlikely to be racing off the lights.
And this brings about a problem that I think is very under-examined: how humans will react to knowing that an automated car will do everything it can to avoid hitting them.

It's pretty obvious to me that making high streets etc safer by having lower speed limits/cobbles/more pedestrian crossings results in people making riskier decisions.

People wouldn't dream of trying to beat a car across a motorway, but it is routine on my local high street now it has cobblestone sections and people are driving at 20 mph or less, even though there are 4 traffic light controlled pedestrian crossings in less than a mile. I've seen people run across the road in between a gap with a pedestrian crossing 15 metres away.

I suspect once self-driving cars are common place, some numpties won't think twice about walking out in front of one, knowing that it will stop.