Jeremy Clarkson Claims Self Driving Cars Are NOT Safe

Jeremy Clarkson has warned that he could have been killed by a driverless car as Chancellor Philip Hammond is about to allow the new technology to be tested on UK roads.

The former Top Gear presenter said he tested out a driverless car which made two mistakes within 50 miles, and as a result he feared for his life.

He wrote in the Sunday Times magazine: “I drove a car the other day which has a claim of autonomous capability and twice in the space of 50 miles on the M4 it made a mistake, a huge mistake, which could have resulted in death.

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TheSteve - 11/20/2017 3:29:19 PM

+2 Boost

They're perfectly safe... as long as you don't hand over the responsibility for safe operation over to the autonomous system while not being 100% ready to wrestle back control should something go wrong.

MDarringer - 11/20/2017 4:16:58 PM

+4 Boost

If that's the case then (1) autonomous cars are not ready for prime time and (2) autonomous technology isn't truly autonomous.

TomM - 11/21/2017 7:30:35 AM

+1 Boost

All cars are perfectly safe - as long as they are not operating or moving.(not)

THe world is also completely safe - as long as nothing is happening.(Never happens)

WE put out lives on the line everyday - we could be pushed down an escalator - killed by a stray bullet - or a terrorist - or a deadly gas in the air - or poison in the water - or squashed from a Scaffold falling - or blown away by a tornado - or flooded by a hurricane - we might even drive a TVR -!! I had a neighbor die when a tree fell on his car driving on a highway.

And worse - did you know that more people in western countries DIE in their Bathrooms than anywhere else? ANd yet - no one has suggested outlawing them - !

Yes - autonomous cars will never be totally safe - ever - because they are cars - and cars are never totally safe as well.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 11/20/2017 5:35:26 PM

+4 Boost

Beyond laser/radar cruise control and parking assist tricks, I would not utilize any autonomous driving aids until another generation or two. And really do you need more than what is available today? I am sure it would be nice to have the car safely take your pregnant wife to the hospital or pick up your kids from school, but that 100% perfect operation from the software utilized is not here today.

SanJoseDriver - 11/20/2017 10:16:58 PM

-6 Boost

Of course the person whose livelihood depends on driving cars would say something like this.

MDarringer - 11/21/2017 10:01:06 AM

+1 Boost

Of course the person whose livelihood depends on being a PR hack on blogs and enthusiast boards would respond as you have.

runninglogan1 - 11/21/2017 2:20:05 AM

-2 Boost

Jeremy Clarkson says a lot of dumb shit.

Hauerg - 11/21/2017 8:57:24 AM

0 Boost

Jerry, you did NOT drive an autonomous car.
RTFM

hangtime010 - 11/21/2017 10:25:57 AM

0 Boost

Maybe it's because it was autonomous is why there wasn't an accident.
Clarkson is always looking for attention. For months now, he's been silent. So I'm thinking this was his way of getting the focus back on him.
His words: “Sit there with your hands folded and let it drive you up there, then squeeze past a lorry with half the tyre hanging over a 1,000ft drop while the car drives itself. Fine, I’ll buy into it.”
I would think that the AI car wouldn't risk passing in a situation like that. It's risky for the driver and JC (stupidly) would risk the pass and say he's a safer driver than AI.