Google Self Driving Cars Top 300,000 Miles

By Wolfgang Gruener
published

Google has launched an impressive statistic showing that its self-driving cars have now covered more than 300,000 miles, and have not been involved in a crash when under computer control.

Of course, we also know that at least one self-driving car was involved in a crash when allegedly under manual control.

Naturally, we would expect these cars to be crash free or they should have been removed from traffic. Google stated that the product team has been "encouraged by this progress, but there’s still a long road ahead." Chris Urmson, in charge of driverless car engineering added: "To provide the best experience we can, we’ll need to master snow-covered roadways, interpret temporary construction signals and handle other tricky situations that many drivers encounter. As a next step, members of the self-driving car team will soon start using the cars solo (rather than in pairs), for things like commuting to work."

In addition to the current Prius vehicles. Google has recently added a Lexus RX450h SUV to its fleet. The car is supposed to take the technology on "different terrain", even if it is somewhat clear the Lexus RX is not exactly the vehicle that you will voluntarily take on terrain other than streets. Perhaps the Google crew was simply tired of the Prius?

In case you are interested, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that there are 2.5 property damage accidents for every 1 million highway miles that are (manually) travelled. There was no information on accident rates on all U.S. streets.

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Wolfgang Gruener
16 Comments Comment from the forums
  • lilsanta
    meet george jetson
    Reply
  • dogman_1234
    Just wait until the computer in the car fails.
    Reply
  • tntom
    Now when you do a Google search, The search engine literally "starts up" and drives you there.
    Reply
  • @dogman_1234

    If you're speaking of the computer that does the driving, then that is what manual mode is for. If it's any of the other computerized systems then the engine may stop working, the transmission may lock into it's current gear (automatic, semi-automatic, and double clutch systems), ABS and/or Traction/Stability control systems may not operate, Climate Control may not operate, etc. Modern cars are far more computerized than you realize.

    Furthermore, airliners have been able to fly mostly computerized with the pilot there "just in case" for nearly a decade.
    Reply
  • tomaz99
    Cars have computers in them right now...if the existing one failed you'd be in trouble as well.

    dogman_1234Just wait until the computer in the car fails.
    Reply
  • the_brute
    @beyondAllLimits

    I agree about what you said, but how many morons will there be not even paing attention or asleep if the computer fails. In a plane you have quite a while before you hit something, in a car you have in less than a second.

    Long story short it would still be user error with or without the computer.
    Reply
  • dalethepcman
    The question is would I get a DWI for sitting in the back seat while my car drove me home?

    if It cannot be operated without sitting in the "drivers" seat, then I don't care.
    Reply
  • v1ze
    "Naturally, we would expect these cars to be crash free or they should have been removed from traffic."

    Uhm, other vehicles could hit the Google car. derp.
    Reply
  • fb39ca4
    tomaz99Cars have computers in them right now...if the existing one failed you'd be in trouble as well.Yes, your engine would cut out. That could be dangerous in some situations, but it won't make your car uncontrollably crash into something.
    Reply
  • fb39ca4
    So how many near crashes were there when the human had to take control to avert them?
    Reply