Self-Driving Cars are Causing Traffic Problems Because They’re Not Human
Since the self-driving car became a thing there have been many questions like, “What happens when four self-driving cars pull up to a four-way stop at the same time?” There is cause for concern, especially when there are reported incidents of cars driving into lakes and similar mind-boggling occurrences.
I love technology and the amazing advances that we’ve seen in just a few short years. If those with self-driving cars still need to be behind the wheel and pay attention, then why even have them? I think we will get to the point where we can sleep in our car while it drives us wherever we’re going, but we’re not there yet.
As long as there are questions and incidents, we’re not ready yet, and here’s some proof.
According to a new study by the University of Copenhagen, self-driving cars still fall short in at least one area.
Professor Barry Brown, from the University’s Department of Computer Science, says, “The ability to navigate in traffic is based on much more than traffic rules. Social interactions, including body language, play a major role when we signal each other in traffic. This is where the programming of self-driving cars still falls short.” To remedy this issue, StudyFinds reported that scientists have suggested adding a fourth traffic light color.
The researchers took a deep dive into 18 hours of YouTube videos of self-driving cars making their way around various streets, and one common problem was clear to them. The robot driver can’t interpret a human driver or pedestrian waving it to “go ahead.”
Instead, the robot car pauses, waiting for an obstruction to pass. However, in one case, the driverless car, which had stopped for pedestrians in a crosswalk who were willing to let the car pass, suddenly started moving again, causing the pedestrians to jump out of the way.
Brown shared their scary discovery, “The driverless vehicle stops so as to not hit pedestrians, but ends up driving into them anyway because it doesn’t understand the signals,” The lack of ability to process social interactions like a “go ahead” wave, is a huge problem. He feels that “Besides creating confusion and wasted time in traffic, it can also be downright dangerous.”
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