The state commission allows the expansion of this technology, but the DMV quickly reverses the decision. This shows the flaws in autonomous cars and raises questions about how much tolerance society has for these flaws. How many accidents and injuries are acceptable as we strive for a safer world? The incidents, like the car getting stuck in wet cement, may be embarrassing, but do they change our understanding of the safety of driverless cars? This glitchiness could be a natural part of technological advancement, but removing human beings from control may make our tolerance lower. Our minds are wired to trust human skill and ingenuity.
After a closely watched vote, driverless cars, once a Silicon Valley fantasy, have become a 24-hour-a-day reality in San Francisco. Are autonomous vehicles an interesting and safe transportation alternative? Or are they a nuisance and a traffic-blocking disaster waiting to happen?
Cade Metz, who covers technology for The Times, describes the unique challenges of coexisting with cars that drive themselves.
Guest: Cade Metz, a technology correspondent for The New York Times.
Background reading:
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