Well Good Morning and Welcome Ms. Lyra,

This self-driving vehicular concept is just out of this world, as well as beyond what most folks would purchase a car or truck for. Words like comfortable or fun would better suit my reasons for buying a new car.

Dont get me wrong here. Just the idea of having the freedom to wave at WalMart women with both hands is very tempting to say the least. As stimulating as that is though, it is surpassed by the fact that it is impossible to create a processor that would be faster at making corrections than humans are at making errors on the highway.

The mere thought of eating a bowl of Cheerios on the way to the office is another healthy bonus to this idea, however,...with people like me out there…my mind latches onto the idea that I aint actually driving the car, so a Coors Light and a candy bar quickly becomes a reality. Afterwards tossing the can and wrapper into the back floorboard..“ Dishes Done Dude!“

With these thoughts now out of my head, and into yours..I’ll just keep control of the majority of my daily activities and let someone else have the fun of sitting in a self driven vehicle with a bored look on their face.

There was a movie out with this case “Minority Report” that brought this worse case to my mind ... What if the Authorities could redirect your car… even worse yet… A Car Jacker taking you hostage in your own car… Locking you in and driving you to a remote location. So do we really want this? that is the question.

Thanks for your comments! 

Wolf—You bring up an interesting point—what if the “car” couldn’t react fast enough?  I wonder how it would know how to react?  And, you’re right… many people think driving is fun.  Would they want to give that up?  I also appreciate your movie reference with “Dishes are done dude!“

James—I am familiar with the movie “Minority Report” but I have not actually seen it.  I’ll have to check that out.  That would be scary if all of a sudden your car started to take you somewhere you didn’t plan or want to go.

Thanks for checking out the Morning Buzz!

I dont think that outside hacking capabilities would apply to this particular model. It seems to run off of sensor devices and an on-board computer with a high speed processor. Of course nothing is to say that later models wouldnt get to that point.

Even with the current concept model, much like any computer you have used, there are glitches. Not to mention the costs involved if you had to take the thing in for repairs. I think the cost of the vehicle alone would far exceed most everyone’s budget anyway.

Driverless technology would be a step backwards in my mind. Taking a driver and passengers and placing them in the same unsafe vehicle that you had before, except now taking the driver’s hands off of the wheel for good, doesnt automatically make the world a better place. If it did, Engineering and IT Departments across the board would look like Maytag repairmen.

Have we as a race become this lazy? We have toilets that flush themselves, faucets that come on and go off by themselves. Hand dryers that we have absolutely no control over, we shop online,we bank online, and now we are thinking of vehicles that drive themselves…

..at some point..we wont be needed at all anymore..

But that idea takes the fun out of just going for a drive. I know it’s not really PC (with global warming, sky-high gas prices and emissions regulations) but doesn’t anyone still love the throaty purr of an engine as you press the throttle? I know myself and my husband still do.

I hear ya Jamie..

Just cruisin along..96.5 “The Drive” cranked on the stereo..sunroof open..dual exhaust talkin trash..gotta love it..

I was thinking tho..if four of us got together and wanted to make a day of it with this new fangled driverless vehicle..cause it’s Lyra’s gig here..we’ll put her in the driver’s seat and Chris over in the passenger seat and you and I in the back..

Now dont pay Lyra and Chris much attention..they are busy trying to figure out the ipod that Lyra just got..so you and I decide that we are going to Planet Hollywood because Martha and Nickie are on location there. That and remember that this is a huge SUV type vehicle so we have an empty 3rd row seat. So we want to pick them up and run by Frank’s house and give him a tough time.

If Lyra can get this puppy cranked, we then have to know every physical address for where we want to go..cause this vehicle doesnt know who Frank is or even that he is the one who let it rain on the Christmas party.

I’m an idiot and Martha is working 14 hour days with political, so that leaves it up to you and Nickie to come up with all of this info to ingest into the system..

We aint gonna make it are we ?

We were just kidding about this at the office that it sounds like a precursor to “Skynet” from the “Terminator” movies. Wouldn’t that be scarry?

I have yet to see the “Terminator” movies..I’m a guy who goes for movies that are real tear-jerkers..you know…like…“Rambo”..

I do however see what some of you are saying..to be re-directed to the nearest police station..while on the way to Grandma’s house for the holidays..because you have outstanding warrants on you for jay-walking or something..

I thought that most all of us who posted here were law-abiding geeks..what could we possibly fear from a vehicle that a Universal Police Force had control over ?

Now as for someone re-directing your vehicle and taking you out to a remote location..well I cant remember the last time I went on a date..

..not that my wife would let me go..but it would still be nice to be asked sometimes…

you know if we get a car that will drive it self just thank of how many people can go to bars and drink and steal get home with no law man to stop you i thank thats real kool