Don't worry, teens will still be able to crash it by texting while not paying attention to it.

/female teens, anyway
//you never hear about male teens texting and crashing...

That's neat and all, but what are the real-world implications of this technology on insurance and at-fault litigation?

It seems like the fact the driver can take control of the car at any time would be a liability. I'd trust the computer more than mot drivers.

One step closer to being legally able to drive home drunk.

A BMW driver will spend this free time playing with their small cock and admiring their own massive egos in the mirror.

Trebuchet-Farker: That's neat and all, but what are the real-world implications of this technology on insurance and at-fault litigation?

None.
Right up front they say the driver has full responsibility for what the car does. Which means its kind of like cruise control but with a steering option.

If someone runs into you then they'll be judged as if they were hitting you as the driver and not an automated vehicle.

/Tho if all cars were automated and the chances of wrecking fell, its a non-problem... it might actually look bad on the manually driven cars that impact automated ones.
/Kind of like complaining to the judge that it was the trains fault for hitting you.

Trebuchet-Farker: That's neat and all, but what are the real-world implications of this technology on insurance and at-fault litigation?

Well, for one thing, the computer would also have to drive like a douche for BMW to sell any of these cars in America.

People regard technology with WAY too much confidence. Assuming that an automated vehicle is infallible is ridiculous at best. They cant even manufacture normal cars without a high failure rate. (Recalls abound)

To think it won't impact litigation is also silly. Let's assume that the "driver" is responsible for the actions of the automated vehicle. The whole point of these things is to let the driver NOT pay attention. Should an emergency arise at 70mph, reaction time for a driver not paying attention would be slow on a good day.

Let's say a deer runs out in front of one and causes an automated vehicle to slam into other automated vehicles full of other drivers not paying attention... how long before the lawyers are suing EVERYONE? Including the manufacturer, subcontractors and the guy who wrote the code?

Perhaps BMW should fix their active steering first!

/BMW driver
//old school - 84 and 93 - so I'm not one of those douches, right? Right?

Trebuchet-Farker: how long before the lawyers are suing EVERYONE? Including the manufacturer, subcontractors and the guy who wrote the code?

They can try.
...But, again, BMW is saying this is a driver assist and not a driver replacement. Their careful choice of words means that you are responsible for what the vehicle does, because you are still the driver.
Its your duty to disable the automated system if it is in error.

I would be no different than if you had cruise control on when you slammed into that deer, or if you damaged another vehicle while parking because the rear view camera or range sensor failed.

Great. More shiat to add weight / cost to the car (which in the case of this company, are already horrifically overpriced). More shiat to break, need repairs / maintenance. More shiat to replace in an accident.

Trebuchet-Farker: Let's say a deer runs out in front of one and causes an automated vehicle to slam into other automated vehicles full of other drivers not paying attention... how long before the lawyers are suing EVERYONE? Including the manufacturer, subcontractors and the guy who wrote the code?

My Infiniti comes to a complete stop while in cruise control if the car in front of me does and that technology is several years old. I'm sure the BMWs with this system will have control over the brakes.

The only problem I see for BMW in your scenario is a deer might not be big enough for the sensors to detect quickly and the first car will actually crash. That will be the first driver's fault because they had the power to hit the brakes themself. I'm pretty sure the people behind him will be fine though. Intelligent cruise control systems keep a generous distance between you and the car in front of you.

JasonOfOrillia: One step closer to being legally able to drive home drunk.

Not going to happen anytime soon. In most states just being in your car while intoxicated (even with it off) gets you a DUI.

Subby, I really don't need to see a video of what the driver does with their free hands.

/unless she shaved first
//Though this is pretty cool

MindStalker: JasonOfOrillia: One step closer to being legally able to drive home drunk.

Not going to happen anytime soon. In most states just being in your car while intoxicated (even with it off) gets you a DUI.

IANAL (like, all the time. Bow chicka bow bow) but every case of that I've heard of is because the driver either stated the intention to drive drunk or was caught in a situation in which it looked like they intended to drive drunk (such as passed out over the steering wheel).

But you're probably right. If you're able to take manual control of the car, you'll still have that DUI liability.

I_Am_Weasel: Fascinating.

Still, I can't help but wonder just how safe it is if they forget to program it to signal a simple lane change.

Seriously

Why is BMW of all brands, The Driver's Car, investing in this and then bragging about the result.

This is cool tech and all, but leave it to Lexus or Buick. Then laugh at them for it in an ad. Somebody important at BMW has seriously lost track of their brand's identity.

(Not that I couldn't tell by looking at who's behind the wheel of late-model BMWs recently.)

/1972 2002tii FTW
// on my lawn

I_Am_Weasel: Fascinating.

Still, I can't help but wonder just how safe it is if they forget to program it to signal a simple lane change.
That's a feature! It's designed to simulate actual drivers.

This would give blue screen of death a whole new meaning.

Next we'll have robots that'll fark your girlfriend so you don't have to.

/Red is the new Blue.
//BNL BNL BNL

I am not sure this will be smart to bring to the market, at least not yet. The cruise control analogies are not a good reference because they still require a driver to keep their eyes on the road. This equipment is creating a situation where the developers are proving that they don't need to interact at all (Its cruise control, and the guys hand are off the wheel). This will cause people to be even more careless than they are now.

What this will technology will create, is a group of people who are on a highway and think that the car is automated(despite legal disclaimers/comment on this tech demo). They WILL not just text and drive, but also web browse and drive using their ipad, to a much greater degree than they would otherwise.

I would love to be proved wrong, and it may actually help against the minor fender benders in the road, but I think that statistic will be misused in advertising against the higher severe accidents that are bound to happen, at least until all vehicles become autonomous.

Also should the day come, I would think riding my motorcycle to work with it driving itself for safety, would cause me to hate life.

like cradling ur womans head durnig road head?