this post was submitted on 20 Dec 2023
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Mercedes-Benz debuts turquoise exterior lights to indicate the car is self-driving | A visual indicator for other drivers::undefined

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[–] RoyaltyInTraining@lemmy.world 120 points 9 months ago (9 children)

If we need warning lights for self driving cars, the technology is not ready.

[–] otter@lemmy.ca 73 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

Eh, it's probably good to have regardless?

It's less about being careful around the car and more about how you might interact with it. For example, honking the horn or flashing your beams wouldn't have the same effect. On that note, it might be nice to have some way of telling a self driving car to temporarily use elevated sensors or something, the same way a horn tells a driver that something is wrong. As long as there's a way to prevent abuse of the system

I don't know much about these lights, but we COULD use some new standards in general with how many things have changed with cars in recent years. Brake lights on electric vehicles being another thing to consider.

That "gentle horn" everyone wants being another

[–] toofpic@lemmy.world 13 points 9 months ago (2 children)

"Gentle horn" sounds like a 80s romantic pop song.

[–] otter@lemmy.ca 41 points 9 months ago
[–] LegionEris@feddit.nl 3 points 9 months ago

A markedly less successful ripoff of Tubular Bells

[–] Synthead@lemmy.world 6 points 9 months ago (2 children)

You're still the driver in the self-driving car. If someone honks, you have pedals and a wheel in front of you. It always comes down to driver neglect. It's like blaming the cruise control for speeding, but giving cruise control more responsibilities.

[–] otter@lemmy.ca 7 points 9 months ago

The standard should endure past this stage. It's not necessary now, but it would be good to start getting used to some kind of a symbol now

Eventually when cars move past this stage, then we'll need it

[–] Steve@communick.news 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Today, sure.
But in 20-50 years, switching to manual driving may be a whole process. It may even be illegal in a full self driving car. In an environment of mixed automated and manual driving, having indicator lights for the autos makes a lot of sense.

[–] barsoap@lemm.ee 50 points 9 months ago (1 children)

As a Level 3 system, the driver is permitted to take their hands off the wheel, their feet off the pedals, and divert their attention away from the road. [...]

The turquoise markers will alert other drivers to the fact that your vehicle is driving itself, so hopefully they won't be alarmed if they see you doing other things while behind the wheel.

[–] RoyaltyInTraining@lemmy.world 14 points 9 months ago

Okay that is the first argument for it I've read that actually makes sense

[–] Kage520@lemmy.world 30 points 9 months ago (1 children)

If we need signs saying student driver, the driver is not ready

[–] otp@sh.itjust.works 16 points 9 months ago (1 children)

If we need signs saying "Baby on Board", the driver isn't ready

[–] tslnox@reddthat.com 2 points 9 months ago

*The baby isn't ready. :-D

[–] Kbobabob@lemmy.world 29 points 9 months ago

warning lights

Lol, this is like calling the turn signals warning lights. Letting others know something about your driving isn't a warning, it's just an indicator.

[–] Postcard64@lemmy.world 28 points 9 months ago (2 children)

To play the devil's advocate: early cars needed a guy with a flag im front of them because people were used to horses and carriages and not automobiles. After a while that stopped being a thing.

But yeah, self driving cars are not really ready.

[–] Junkers_Klunker@lemmy.world 9 points 9 months ago

Id argue that motorized carriages back then werent ready for the public.

[–] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago

I havent seen a lvl 3 yet, have you? Id like to know your actual thoughts on driving one. I only see Teslas and such, and they don't have them yet.

[–] rottingleaf@lemmy.zip 3 points 9 months ago (2 children)

There are warning signs to indicate people learning to drive in ex-Soviet countries (such yellow triangles to put behind the glass), even though they are driving with an instructor.

Now when I think about it, it's been some time since I've seen that sign.

[–] barsoap@lemm.ee 7 points 9 months ago

Somewhat similarly in the Netherlands, in case you fail your practical driving exam three times you still get a license but you can only drive cars marked with special yellow number plates.

[–] lolcatnip@reddthat.com 3 points 9 months ago

They're pretty common in the US as well, but it's just a sign that says "student driver".

I've also seen orange triangles used in vehicles like horse-drawn carriages that can't go as fast as regular traffic, mostly in connection to Amish people.

[–] helenslunch@feddit.nl 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The technology will never be ready if you don't test it.

And I would argue we DON'T need warning lights since, while imperfect, most self-driving tech is already vastly better than your average driver. We should have warning lights for cars that DON'T have self-driving.

This is ultimately why we will NEVER have self-driving cars en masse, because society isn't willing to take the necessary risks to improve the safety of everyone on the road.

[–] Maggoty@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Sure. But we're jumping into the deep end by legally allowing the driver to be exempt from distracted driving laws. There's a big difference between testing the technology and relying on the technology.

[–] helenslunch@feddit.nl 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

legally allowing the driver to be exempt from distracted driving laws.

Can you cite the legislation that exempts drivers using driver assistance systems from paying attention while driving?

There's a big difference between testing the technology and relying on the technology.

No one should be relying on the technology.

[–] Maggoty@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago

California, Nevada, and Germany all have laws for it. The article this comment section is based on specifically mentions California and Nevada.

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world -2 points 9 months ago

Well, theirs probably isn't.