Hands Free Driving – Computers Have Benefits

Imagine if you could reach back with a fly swatter to stop your kids from acting up without having to worry about what the car is going to smash into. A handful of car companies such as Lexus, Toyota, BMW, Mercedes and Volvo are developing systems to put into their cars to make them drive by themselves.  It was inevitable.  We have cars that park themselves, stop themselves and let you know when you are too far out of your lane. As you can see in the picture they put some of this breaking edge technology in a 2nd generation Prius.  Didn't these cars have problems with their gas pedals getting stuck?  IN THE GO FAST POSITION? It wasn't a big deal though because the Toyota Prius only goes 38 miles per hour.

These computers are doing a very good job.  Google's self-driving cars have driven more than 400,000 miles on California public roads.  These computer systems are of course being studied front to back, top to bottom and the results are very good.  A new study says that the cars and trucks hold the potential to transform driving by eliminating the majority of traffic deaths, significantly reducing congestion and providing tens of BILLIONS of dollars in economic benefits.  That's something to rave over.

Lets get some numbers out here.

If 10% of cars and trucks on the road were self driving, that would mean traffic deaths would be cut down by 1,000 per year.  It would also produce $38 Billion in economic and other savings.  That's incredible.

Now look at it this way.

If 90% of vehicles were self driving, 21,700 lives would be saved and economic benefits would be up to $447 Billion. ...dang. A few years of that would get America out of debt.

"There will be many steps before we get to that, but it does feel like there is a whole new world that completely changes everything in terms of our perspective on driving that could emerge eventually."  President and CEO of Eno, Joshua Schank.  The Eno center for transportation was founded and dedicates itself to improving transportation.

I was talking on the morning show Tuesday morning about why they aren't using cheaper cars to test the product.  Come to find out that these self driven cars are going to run about $100,000 (save your pennies).  They aren't going to put this tech in a Scion or a Kia so why not test it on the real thing.  Lexus/Toyota, Mercedes/Chrysler, GM and BMW/Mini are all in the running trying to get to the top first.  Let's just hope they take their time.