Driving vehicles: Good idea or a bad idea?

ceciliazhang

(AFP)Fourteen passengers were injured after an driverless five-car train in suburban Tokyo went in the wrong direction and crashed into a buffer stop, Japanese police said Sunday.

Photo taken June 1, 2019, shows Yokohama Seaside Line's Shin-Sugita Station in Yokohama, eastern Japan, where an automated train traveled in the wrong direction earlier in the day.[Photo: IC]

Local media reported that some injuries -- the first resulting from an accident involving an automated train in 30 years -- appeared to be serious but non-life-threatening.

The train hit the buffer stop at Shin-Sugita station after travelling the wrong way for about 20 metres (65 feet), Akihiko Mikami, president of the train operator, said in a midnight press conference.

The station is a terminal of the self-driving Kanazawa Seaside Line in the port city of Yokohama.

Mikami added that the operator has shut down the line and it was uncertain when services would be resumed.

Compared to self-driving cars that have recently taken the road in several countries on a test basis, automated trains have a relatively long history in Japan.

Among accidents that have made headlines are a collision involving an autonomous Uber vehicle that killed a pedestrian and a fatal crash that involved electric car maker Tesla's "Autopilot" feature, both of which occurred last year in the United States.

pnp

"Driving vehicles: Good idea or a bad idea?Driving vehicles: Good idea or a bad idea?"

Bad idea! Take public transport, don't drive cars! Public transport is the way to GO!

emanreus

pnp Post time: 2019-6-4 12:45
"Driving vehicles: Good idea or a bad idea?Driving vehicles: Good idea or a bad idea?"

Bad idea! Ta ...

emanreus

pnp Post time: 2019-6-4 12:45
"Driving vehicles: Good idea or a bad idea?Driving vehicles: Good idea or a bad idea?"

Bad idea! Ta ...

Saul

Among accidents that have made headlines are a collision involving an autonomous Uber vehicle that killed a pedestrian and a fatal crash that involved electric car maker Tesla's "Autopilot" feature, both of which occurred last year in the United States.
..I'll stick with human drivers for now.

pnp

Saul Post time: 2019-6-5 20:03
Among accidents that have made headlines are a collision involving an autonomous Uber vehicle that k ...

".I'll stick with human drivers for now."

Human drivers are not much better, maybe even worse; witness the numerous road accidents resulting in deaths and injuries involving human drivers!  Still, stick to public transport is best!

Saul

pnp Post time: 2019-6-5 22:41
".I'll stick with human drivers for now."

Human drivers are not much better, maybe even worse; wi ...

Automated train or airplane, no thanks.

Automobile....maybe.

Public transit, sure when available.