The public needs much more information on autonomous vehicles.  The self-driving car phenomenon is hugely ramified and has enormous consequences for society and individuals.  It should be considered very carefully before it becomes a fait accompli.

One important point is the difference between driving a vehicle and merely operating it.  Driving is about observing, analyzing, judging, deciding, communicating, etc. – higher mental functions. Operating is little more than using a vehicle’s controls to move, stop, and point it.  The “First Principles” section of this website provides a primer on the concept of driving.

The problem here is that precious few people understand the dissimilarity between operating and actually driving a motor vehicle.  From what we’ve seen so far, this crucial ignorance appears common among those promoting self-driving cars too.

1-16-2017