Will cars tell on us?

"Spanfeller is a twat" (theaspiringengineer)
08/11/2019 at 15:07 • Filed to: None

After driving the Tesla Model 3 a few times I’ve reached the conclusion th at, if the car wanted to, it could basically drive me to the nearest police station and turn me in for the myriad of infractions I commit on a daily basis.

This is true of many new cars, that have dozens of cameras, internet connectivity, and even some self-driving tech that require AI programming capable of telling humans apart from poles, or trucks from scooters.

The programing could determine all of my offenses on its own, and while the tech still has some discouraging misses, it confused my mom for a box truck this morning, there’s no wonder that it will only become better over time.

But I wonder if cars will tell on us for some offenses.

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The EU already ruled that all new cars sold from 2022 will need to come with “ISA” a speed limiter that would prevent drivers from exceeding the speed limit based on GPS and mapping information. But this system is, to an extent, only passive because it doesn’t brake the car, as much as limit power.

So, what would happen if the driver goes down a steep incline with the car in neutral, doubling the speed limit? should the car tell on the driver? If the car is fitted with an ISA, and the driver breaks the speed limit, should they pay a bigger or a smaller fine than a car without an ISA?

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This is actually a very contentious topic in Mexico City, where some drivers argue that red lights should be turned off after 10-12PM to save time and avoid possible muggers.

Tesla’s latest autopilot version has traffic light recognition, and even if it’s passive, it would probably be able to apply the brakes if the driver is about to blow a light. Autopilot already has pedestrian recognition, which would also be important to take into consideration because at unsignalized pedestrian crossings, pedestrians tend to have the right of way.

But, if a car detects a pedestrian is about to cross, should it brake regardless of how the throttle is applied/ if the car is in autonomous mode? Should it tell on a driver for not giving right of way or driving recklessly?

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What if a car, equipped with all of the autonomous driving features, detects that the driver is willingly running over someone? Should the car call the cops? Would it be pertinent for the car to lock itself and leave the culprit unable to escape? What if the car has incriminating evidence? Should it stop the owner from deleting it?

Lets imagine the car detects an accident and locks itself, what if it was an accident and the driver needs to take the victim to a hospital to save their life?

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While full autonomy is still many years away, I wonder if all of these measures could be applied soon. I don’t think it would be very good, as far as privacy goes, but it’s undeniable that the tech is going to be ready to report on us very soon.

DISCUSSION (19)

M.T. Blake > Spanfeller is a twat
08/11/2019 at 15:22

That picture is epic. Too many electronic nannies coming in the future-now. Sounds like I’ll be keeping the M5!

Spanfeller is a twat > M.T. Blake
08/11/2019 at 15:27

I find funny that according to the articles I read about speed limiters, the most pressure not to do it will probably come from Germany. Sort of ironic considering how they normally think about regulations.

wafflesnfalafel > Spanfeller is a twat
08/11/2019 at 15:27

yep, and folks are already VOLUNTARILY giving this type of info to their insurance companies...

Spanfeller is a twat > wafflesnfalafel
08/11/2019 at 15:29

I mean, it reduces insurance rates, which are already pretty spectacularly high.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Spanfeller is a twat
08/11/2019 at 15:34

I had a Subaru outback with full drivers nanny system as a loaner, I hated it and that is me being nice. Lame departure and auto braking were the most annoying things.

Urambo Tauro > Spanfeller is a twat
08/11/2019 at 15:35

I’m becoming more and more convinced that full HAVs will never be deployed on the scale portrayed in sci-fi media (éX-Driver , I, Robot , etc.). But it’s amusing to watch these tech companies try!

Spanfeller is a twat > Urambo Tauro
08/11/2019 at 15:38

Unless all city streets are made in exactly the same way as regulations require, it will be pretty hard. If you read Mexico’s infrastructure regulations and compare them to how they actually make roads, you will find Teslas and other cars will be very challenged.

Spanfeller is a twat > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
08/11/2019 at 15:40

I experienced “phantom braking” often in the Model 3.... it is very annoying, and potentially dangerous considering Spanish drivers love tailgating.

Urambo Tauro > Spanfeller is a twat
08/11/2019 at 15:59

Yeah even here in the States some roads actually incentivize bad driving. And I’m not even referring to swerving around potholes...

One of my big pet peeves are left lane hogs, and those “right lane ends, merge left” signs just contribute to the problem. This design makes people want to camp out in the left lane MILES in advance of the merge point. Yet Michigan law bids drivers to use the right lane (unless passing). It’s a direct contradiction and we don’t even have mandatory zipper merging like Minnesota does, so the rule that takes precedence is the one about merging traffic having to yield to traffic already in the target lane.

Adopting and enforcing zipper merging would help a LOT, but it would also help if the signs and lane markings were changed (which wouldn’t even cost very much) so that the left lane is the one that ends. People would then be incentivized to return to the right lane ASAP.

BTW, have you read Torch’s book ?

Spanfeller is a twat > Urambo Tauro
08/11/2019 at 16:04

He published a hook?

Shift24 > Spanfeller is a twat
08/11/2019 at 16:09

With how the government is going 100% it will be eventually. Right before all cars became autonomous and appliances

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Spanfeller is a twat
08/11/2019 at 16:15

I don’t think we have to worry about this kind of intrusion in North America, especially when governments will be relying on automakers to cooperate with them as I think it is unlikely they could require automakers to take upon themselves a law enforcement capacity. We would also have to introduce laws that would criminalize tampering with such systems, or make them tamper proof.

While I’m not concerned about my ability to speed and ignore pedestrian right of way with impunity, I do think this kind of technology will mirror smartphones, in the sense that when a serious enough crime occurs vehicles will be able to provide even more evidence than before. We may even be able to do things like remotely shut down vehicles involved in Amber Alerts (justified because the children) and such, but at that point the question is really do we trust our governments and the corporations that control this new information.

Urambo Tauro > Spanfeller is a twat
08/11/2019 at 16:23

Yup : Robot, Take the Wheel

It’s fantastic and covers almost every concern I’ve had so far about HAVs.

Herr Quattro - Has a 4-motion > Spanfeller is a twat
08/11/2019 at 18:29

Wtf is this about the ISA? That sounds horrible and like government overreaching.

At least it sounds like it can easily be disabled, but still...

Spanfeller is a twat > Herr Quattro - Has a 4-motion
08/11/2019 at 18:41

It will probably end up having a negative effect on road safety. In Madrid for instance, the previous mayor put up a very restrictive ULEZ around a huge portion of central Madrid. While people inside the ULEZ loved it, and it reduced pollution drastically, the otherwise popular mayor was pushed out of office by the people that live outside the ULEZ... who hate it because they can’t drive into it.

Now the conservatives are in power and, um... they’re gonna do something about the ULEZ. probably also speed limits, and fines, etc.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Spanfeller is a twat
08/11/2019 at 19:14

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/06/world/europe/madrid-central-car-pollution.html

If I’m not mistaken the Madrid ban reversal was struck down by a judge,

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Herr Quattro - Has a 4-motion
08/11/2019 at 19:16

You have to remember in the UK

Kinja'd!!!

this is legally a 60mph road.

Spanfeller is a twat > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
08/11/2019 at 19:40

Yes, that is true, but it’s still being fought by the tories’

More importantly, had PSOE stayed in power the ULEZ would’ve probably been made bigger, and more restrictions to driving would be placed.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Spanfeller is a twat
08/12/2019 at 06:01

yes they will