Mercedes-Benz debuts turquoise exterior lights to indicate the car is self-driving | A visual indicator for other drivers::undefined

    • Otter@lemmy.ca
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      10 months ago

      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

    • barsoap@lemm.ee
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      10 months ago

      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.

    • kuneho@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      🤦

      if we need warning lights for ANYTHING, the humanity is just not ready.

    • rottingleaf@lemmy.zip
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      10 months ago

      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
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        10 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
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        10 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
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      10 months ago

      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
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        10 months ago

        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
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          10 months ago

          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
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            10 months ago

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