“For good ideas and true innovation, you need human interaction, conflict, argument, debate.” – Margaret Heffernan
Human beings are always seeking to improve and take the next step. Now as autonomous vehicles and robots are beginning to take shape it is most likely that conflicts are just the beginning. In the article “Uber: We don’t need a permit for self-driving cars” by Dara Kerr is mentioned that the state of California regulations are extremely strict when it comes to permits. If a vehicle needs to be in operation it has to have all its paper work done and in order. If this isn’t the case then the car is not able to be driven. So Uber has decided that they don’t have to report and get permits from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Their approach to this is “don’t ask for permission, but be prepared to seek forgiveness.” Yet, as the article moves on, Uber doesn’t even need the DMV’s forgiveness for something they have done and has come to be such a major success. They preferred to leave the risk to civilians and people than to get a permit for their driverless cars. Uber is one of the first companies that bring “autonomous vehicles to the public in the US. “ Other industries such as Toyota, Ford, Volvo, and Tesla are a few that have gone through the process of getting a permit from the DMV. The DMV conducts testing on self-driving cars, checks if they are secure and if they are not, they can’t go around on the streets. However, Uber doesn’t think the same, in the article it is mentioned that Anthony Levandowski, Uber’s vice president believes that “California’s rules and requirements are overly strict” and that they “could have the unintended consequence of slowing innovation.” Innovation is already here and not because the DMV requiring these industries to get a permit means they are cutting innovation. The DMV’s values include the safety and protection of the people, they value the life and that’s what they are trying to protect. They value life and they don’t want to see any accidents coming from autonomous cars. If the cars are not ready to take the road then there should be someone saying and implementing rules. Even if the driverless car is still in the hands of a human it doesn’t mean that it is secured, it only means that there is a greater risk for the people inside the car and in the streets. So Uber is trying to go around the issue by implying that “[their] cars are not yet ready to drive without a person monitoring them.” Yet there has been an accident involving Uber. “There have been a few reports of cars involved in fender-benders, going the wrong way down one-way streets and ignoring traffic signals.” Therefore, Uber should be taken out of the streets if they don’t have a permit.
5 Comments
Connor Leary
12/16/2016 03:07:57 am
You're right. I'm surprised that hasn't happened yet. To me, this seems the same as a person driving around without a license. That person probably won't get in trouble until he gets into an accident, but if we had known beforehand, they would. Here, Uber is announcing to the world: We're driving around without a permit! I'm really surprised that would not immediately be shut down.
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12/16/2016 11:08:27 pm
I do think that what Uber is doing by not getting permits for their autonomous cars is wrong and should be stopped. There are reasons why permits are needed in order for someone to drive in the roads. It helps keep the transportation safe and free of those unable to handle the responsibilities of driving a car. If Uber continues to undermine this fact, more people might start to undermine them also and start driving without their permits. This would cause even more accidents that there already are in the road. Hopefully, this doesn't happen though and that Uber realizes their folly with this move.
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Imara
12/17/2016 12:34:10 pm
I think, every car has to go though inspection of DMV. so that way we know that car is safe to ride. Any machine has a potential of failing, and we have to minimize the risk. I love to have self driven car cause that way I can read news paper or watch video while I'm riding. uber self driven cars must pass DMV inspection just like other cars.
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Brandon E
12/18/2016 05:18:32 pm
So, to drive on the road, your car has to be certified. The way I see it, as long as they have a road certified car (which is easy to get) and a licensed driver, then there is no issue. Now as for a autonomous-specific permit, I would think that's over the top. Since there are no "normal" autonomous cars, there is no way to regulate it yet. So, unless I'm missing something, as long as Uber has a driver in the car and a normal certified car in use, then they are ok.
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Logan Louks
12/18/2016 06:21:04 pm
Geri,
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AuthorI transferred to CSUMB in the Spring 2016 from Hartnell Community College. I'm currently working towards my bachelor's in Network and Security and minor in Business Administration. ![]() Archives
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