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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

These driverless lorries

97 replies

StealthPolarBear · 26/08/2017 08:13

Will have drivers in them just in case.
So what's the benefit?
Or is this just while they're being tested

OP posts:
Hassled · 26/08/2017 08:16

I didn't get that bit either - Chief Lorry is in control but Worker Lorries have someone just sat inside in case Chief Lorry cocks up? I'm clearly missing something. The whole thing freaks me out a bit - but then I'm the sort who can't imagine getting in a driverless car.

RedHelenB · 26/08/2017 08:23

Watched it on the news and it looks so dangerous . One lorry overtaking another is bad enough but to overtake that 3 lorry convoy would surely cause more congestion? I wonder if they could only operate them in off peak traffic because getting on from a slip road would be more difficult for everyone else too And if something rolled in front of the back one and it was forced to stop what happens then?

Zampa · 26/08/2017 08:26

I think driverless lorries (and cars in general) on motorways are a great idea. Driver error, speeding, ignoring road conditions cause accidents. I hope that automation will help eliminate road deaths.

I see shocking driving all the time and the sooner robots do it for us the better!

Kindoline · 26/08/2017 08:29

Says someone who's job isn't driving lorries Wink

What happens to all those people then? Down the dole queue?

Original poster
StealthPolarBear · 26/08/2017 08:30

Zampa I agree once everything is automated. I worry that a mix of automated and driver vehicles is worse than all driver vehicles iyswim

OP posts:
PigletWasPoohsFriend · 26/08/2017 08:31

It seems odd tbh.

user1471517900 · 26/08/2017 08:32

They're testing them. Of course they will have people in them while they do that

Sirzy · 26/08/2017 08:33

Apparently the idea is money will be saved because less fuel will be used.

It's a rediculous idea IMO

user997799779977 · 26/08/2017 08:33

What happens to all those people then? Down the dole queue?

All low skilled workers need to evolve sooner or later. We can't stop progress just to keep jobs. Therefore kids these days need to be smarter and more competitive. Choose subjects that will be relevant like science, engineering, etc. Else yes dole queue and let others decide your life.

Sirzy · 26/08/2017 08:34

I don't think driving 40 tonnes of lorry classes as low skilled Hmm

hula008 · 26/08/2017 08:34

They're going to have people in them while they are testing the driverless lorries

BarbarianMum · 26/08/2017 08:37

So how does it work when you are trying to join the motorway and meet one of these convoys then? Are you just expected to stop and wait for it to pass? That'll be fun. Hmm

ivykaty44 · 26/08/2017 08:37

You need to pass HGV test to drive a lorry
Surely passing a test or examination is giving you a skill and proofing you can do it

Hassled · 26/08/2017 08:38

I heard a really interesting programme on Radio4 a year or so ago about driverless cars and ethics, and how to an extent the ethics will have to be programmed into the driverless cars - so does it carry on straight when there's an elderly person on the road in front of them if the alternative is to swerve onto the pavement where there's a child? Whose life is more valuable? These are the sort of split-second ethical decisions an actual driver would take, and they have to replicate part of that in the driverless car.

ivykaty44 · 26/08/2017 08:39

Barbarian how would you do that now? Traffic is only suppose to move into another lane to overtake - not move lanes for slip road to enter carriage way

Notknownatthisaddress · 26/08/2017 08:40

Yeah, hoards of driverless 40 ton lorries on our motorways!

What could POSSIBLY go wrong?! Shock

ivykaty44 · 26/08/2017 08:42

Hasseled, there is no way thinking time would allow for ethics, you would have killed the pensioner before you had got to the end of your thought process let along make a decision

gamerchick · 26/08/2017 08:42

All low skilled workers need to evolve sooner or later

Low skilled? You've done it then?

ivykaty44 · 26/08/2017 08:43

At least driverless lorries won't be using mobile phones

Stoneagemum · 26/08/2017 08:43

This was trialled in Europe in April 2016 with the platoon of 6 trucks crossing several countries and terminating at a Highways Industry trade show. An information booklet was produced that can be found here www.eutruckplatooning.com/Support/Booklet+Lessons+Learnt/handlerdownloadfiles.ashx?idnv=529927

LindyHemming · 26/08/2017 08:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Hassled · 26/08/2017 08:45

Well yes, you probably would. But the point of the programme was that drivers are making ethical decisions, whether consciously or not, and that certainly these cars are going to need to be able to replicate the same. I don't understand how it's even possible.

BarbarianMum · 26/08/2017 08:45

Well now i alter my speed so I'd match myself with a gap between vehicles. But individual vehicles aren't nearly as long as these convoys and from what i understand they act as one re speed/breaking so not really safe to insert yourself into say, the gap between lorry one and lorry two, so you'd have to wait til the end of the convoy passes you by which time youve run out of dlip road. Or have I misunderstood?

AlternativeTentacle · 26/08/2017 08:46

I can't wait for 3 lorries to be overtaking 3 other lorries, one going at 56 mph and the overtaker going at 56.1 mph, on a two lane NSL road. Just can't wait. But wait I shall, probably in a 10 mile queue whilst they play silly buggers.

Are you just expected to stop and wait for it to pass?

Interestingly I have seen this happen twice this week on the A1 and A38. First the person in the slip road stopped, and then was driving at about 20 mph trying to get on, so that the 70mph people driving on the actual road had to brake furiously. Yesterday, the person in the left hand lane, just fucking stopped. Unfuckingbelievable. And that was just for a bog standard lorry.

Hassled · 26/08/2017 08:47

Link to truly odd website where you get to judge what actions a driverless car should take in different scenarios - Moral Machine.