Autonomous cars are coming soon, people, maybe as soon as 2015 if you live in California. And with them will be a whole set of new rules and regulations when it comes to driving. Or, ahem, not driving.
This will obviously be a gargantuan task, spanning issues related to privacy, security, safety, and, of course, liability. California’s Department of Motor Vehicles held a summit last week attended by automakers and tech companies to get their input on some of the proposed regulations. But they’re also opening the conversation up to the public. A draft proposal will be posted this summer and anyone will be able to weigh in on the new laws.
https://gizmodo.com/whats-keeping-self-driving-cars-off-the-road-1450916024
One of the most critical issues to be tackled by the new regulations is drinking. Self-driving cars could potentially eradicate drunk driving—which would be awesome. But it also raises some questions.
Obviously you are not allowed to drink and then drive a car. But can you drink and “drive” a self-driving car? Does there still need to be designated non-driver at the “wheel”? Someone must need to be lucid enough to punch in proper navigational information, right? Will your car have a pre-programmed “home” button? And for the cars which allow you to switch between manual and autonomous, how will your car know the difference? A steering-wheel mounted breathalyzer? What do you think? Leave your ideas below! [GovTech]
