'Driverless' car tested on British roads for first time
A driverless car has been tested on the roads in Britain for the first time. David Millward gets behind the wheel.
By David Millward, Transport Editor 6:30AM BST 28 Aug 2013
Within a stone’s throw of Big Ben, a specially adapted Volvo V60 made its way around the streets of Westminster.
Many top end cars have cruise control, this however went one step further which what the company calls steer assist.
At the press of a two buttons the car takes over control of the brakes, engine and steering, making sure the car keeps a safe distance from the vehicle in front.
It relies on a combination of radar and camera, which is capable of following everything from trucks and buses to cars and motor bikes.
In theory, at least, it provides additional protection for a driver especially on long motorway journeys.
It is a failsafe providing a safety net for those moments when a driver’s attention can wander during a tedious long journey.
At any time, however, the driver can take back control of the car at any time.
The technology, which works in the dark, is intended to be available by the end of next year.
"The driver still has to supervise it," said Erik Coelingh, one of Volvo's engineers.
'It is intended to make motorway driving much more relaxing. The car pays attention all the time, the technology does not get tired.
"The radar regulates the speed by judging he distance from car in front, while the camera recognises not only vehicles but lane markings"
Driving around London, it was a tad disconcerting to see my chauffeur take his hands off the wheel, but there were no mishaps with the car coming to stop a reasonable distance from the vehicle in front.
Underpinning the trials is the belief that eliminating the human element can make cars safer and reduce the risk of collisions, such as rear end shunts which cause damage in cities and far worse at high speeds.
Volvo says its ambition is to include this technology on all its future models in the hope that nobody will ever be killed or seriously injured in one of its cars by 2020.
The concept of driverless cars has been spearheaded by Google which has already tested a specially adapted Toyota Prius on 100,000 miles of roads in San Francisco.
In Britain the Government has been enthusiastic about the concept of driverless cars, even though it is yet to invest any public money in the project.
Ministers are already watching work which has been taking place at Oxford University, where researchers have been trialling a driverless Nissan Leaf on private land.
They seem SO determined to introduce this.
Perhaps with people who have NO interest in driving and a CLEAR SIGN on the vehicle there might be a place for it on the road IF it CAN really take total control AND make those drivers who couldn't care less about bettering their skills or being responsible on the road nor bothered about learning anything about the road ... then maybe it gives them a way to 'travel' without managing to crash or otherwise cause injury or upset to all those who do care about their own responsibility and interest in driving.
Perhaps this is a way to then provide an 'automated only' driving 'ticket' than licence and they are then unable to consider themselves even a driver. It is likely to be limited only to town driving and certain accessible routes as obviously many roads would not be 'safe' as they would need to think for themselves and then be clearly unqualified.
Who would WANT to be labelled that way I cannot imagine but perhaps there are a few.
This technology is coming and it will maybe encourage some and give them some ability to 'drive' ... perhaps for those who are too disabled, old and incapable of driving for whatever reason, by themselves, it enables them to be on the road and totally safe.
Perhaps they can be labelled as 'dis-able-car' or 'RoboCar or some such ... that way we can all know it may make horrendous mistakes.
I notice they do not say it recognised bikes ! Motorbikes but not cycles... ! hummmm what will it make of the mad ones who dart about like no one else exists ??
BUT
can we ever be
absolutely sure 100% of the time with any of these systems ?
I'd treat them as a major hazard at all times and steer well clear on every instance of any proximity to me.
I do admire the mass of technical effort to produce this result but I will always question the true worth and value of it for our roads.
As an aid to people losing attention is not likely to even make those people better drivers, likely worse as if used, some will then rely on it to stop their accidents! Creating further inattention and distraction than improving peoples attention and concentration.
We must always be highly cautious of these systems improving anything.
If used only as a last resort prior to accident prevention it might have a place.... if one chose to have it.
I hate the whole idea of it ... but they are clearly determined to make this work.
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