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Re:Mercedes-Benz wins approval for Level 3 autonomous drivin... by seanmcdirmid on Saturday December 11, 2021 @01:08AM (#29518876)
When I lived in Beijing, I took a taxi to and from work daily (from northeast to northwest Beijing on the 4th ring). It is really nice being driven around, you just chill and use your phone (would have taken the subway but being stuffed in with no available seating wasn’t very relaxing). Driving isn’t fun for a lot of people.

In cities where taxis are more ubiquitous, why isn’t level 5 simply replaces the taxi drivers with computers no? Then it’s not really a new paradigm, just that (a) traffic might flow better and (b) places where taxis aren’t cheap and plentiful (most of the USA, much of Western Europe) get to have an experience similar to a middle class lifestyle in a developing country.

Re:Mercedes-Benz wins approval for Level 3 autonomous drivin... by solatic on Saturday December 11, 2021 @03:36AM (#29519471)
There's a difference between driving in traffic jams to get to work and driving on twisty empty back roads. The former is a regrettable experience that is a necessary evil so that you can make a living. The latter is a hobby that lets you control the direction of the roller coaster.
Re:Mercedes-Benz wins approval for Level 3 autonomous drivin... by trgn on Saturday December 11, 2021 @04:03AM (#29519562)
Public roads are not a racetrack, and it's regrettable many people treat it as such. That society for some reason tolerates "spirited" driving, people using the road as their personal rollercoaster, is one of the worst lapses in our collective judgements. It probably grew out of cars starting out as toys for the rich, and the aspirational branding created around it.

Allowing high speed cars anywhere (even on the twisty "empty" roads) is the main reason the public realm is now objectively dangerous.

Driving should have been integrated in the culture as a solemn activity, only reserved to those with impeccable integrity and high moral standing, a true privilege in which the driver assumes responsibility for the lives of others, and accepts accountability commensurate with this duty.

Ending somebodies life, injuring others, causing damage, those are the inevitable by-products of careless driving, of driving for sport.

I'm exaggerating for emphasis. But driving as a hobby should be reserved to the racetrack. Just like shooting guns as a hobby is reserved to the gun range.

Re:Mercedes-Benz wins approval for Level 3 autonomous drivin... by turminal on Saturday December 11, 2021 @06:44AM (#29520195)
The fact that someone likes driving doesn't mean they are careless or going too fast.
Re:Mercedes-Benz wins approval for Level 3 autonomous drivin... by tonyedgecombe on Saturday December 11, 2021 @10:52AM (#29521703)
"control the direction of the roller coaster" implies otherwise.
Re:Mercedes-Benz wins approval for Level 3 autonomous drivin... by simonccarter on Saturday December 11, 2021 @09:15AM (#29520988)
You can drive safely and enjoy it.
Re:Mercedes-Benz wins approval for Level 3 autonomous drivin... by seanmcdirmid on Saturday December 11, 2021 @09:58PM (#29526724)
Recreational driving sounds a lot different from the daily grind or that t5 hour trip on I90 from Seattle to Spokane to see family that you’ve made a hundred times before. Self driving cars would really help with the grind, then maybe we can focus more on recreation with the time we save.