Well that's kinda why I was bit rattled, went for a run last week early evening and saw 6 deer in an hour.. also was driving last week and saw the rapidly disappearing arse of a badger which when the encounter a car appear to be made of rocks.
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What's made you grumpy today?
Well that's kinda why I was bit rattled, went for a run last week early evening and saw 6 deer in an hour.. also was driving last week and saw the rapidly disappearing arse of a badger which when the encounter a car appear to be made of rocks.
My brother lives about 30 miles south of us in the "depths" of the Scottish borders, near Galashiels. We pop down to see him from time to time and have the choice of either the A68 or A7. You might describe the A68 as a much better, faster road with wider verges and you can set the cruise for much of it - watch out for the speed cameras though. Whereas the A7 is twisty and windy, really has to be "driven" - forget about setting cruise! On both roads, from time to time, especially after dark as it often is on our return journey, you see animals. I like the A7 because it's a more involving drive so you stay very alert, but also you are going slower a lot of the time so can avoid "obstacles" (although last Friday there was a poor badger who obviously hadn't been quick enough earlier in the day. It was a big one too so potentially may have done quite a bit of damage to the vehicle which hit it. Nothing like a deer though!). A68? Much faster, less bends and heavier traffic but boringly lacking in "driveability" so you tend to be lulled and less alert - then, if a deer or maybe Mr Brock makes an unexpected appearance? the outcome is sadly predictable.
Badgers do appear to be made of concrete. I've seen, several times, the whole front suspension ripped out of a car when having hit a badger. When you see a squashed one, it has been hit by a truck.
I used to commute along a road frequented by lots of pheasants. Had a Mirafiori, then an Argenta, both with polyester bumpers (grey plastic, not painted, stronger and more flexible than the painted ones) so only ever just lifted the throttle. Have killed more than I can remember. No way I'll compromise my safety for theirs.
Reminds me of quite a few years ago now, maybe 2007/8 (perhaps really one for the smile thread), leaving Wantage (South Oxfordshire) 30mph limit, a BMW 5 series arrived behind very quickly. It was dusk, animal time, and he was so close I could only see his bonnet, not his grille or lights. As we left the 30, into what was then national speed limit, I gently accelerated towards 60, through a series of gentle bends, arriving at 60 leaving the last bend. BMW still very close. A pheasant popped out of the hedge about a car length ahead. I didn't even lift the accelerator, as the BMW would probably have touched. Pheasant, having made one bad decision, had a choice. Run, and probably make it as they run well, or fly, and they take a bit of effort to get up. Seocnd bad decision, decided to fly. Flap, flap, thud. It skimmed the bonnet, broke the wiper blade (not raining) and launched, probably dead, up over the top. In the mirror I saw the shape fall from the sky onto the BMW's bonnet. Of course he did not know it was coming, or what it was, just a football sized lump falling from the sky. The nose of the BMW dived, and for the rest of the journey home, about 7 miles, he was at least 200 yds behind.
Still makes me laugh now.
I used to commute along a road frequented by lots of pheasants. Had a Mirafiori, then an Argenta, both with polyester bumpers (grey plastic, not painted, stronger and more flexible than the painted ones) so only ever just lifted the throttle. Have killed more than I can remember. No way I'll compromise my safety for theirs.
Reminds me of quite a few years ago now, maybe 2007/8 (perhaps really one for the smile thread), leaving Wantage (South Oxfordshire) 30mph limit, a BMW 5 series arrived behind very quickly. It was dusk, animal time, and he was so close I could only see his bonnet, not his grille or lights. As we left the 30, into what was then national speed limit, I gently accelerated towards 60, through a series of gentle bends, arriving at 60 leaving the last bend. BMW still very close. A pheasant popped out of the hedge about a car length ahead. I didn't even lift the accelerator, as the BMW would probably have touched. Pheasant, having made one bad decision, had a choice. Run, and probably make it as they run well, or fly, and they take a bit of effort to get up. Seocnd bad decision, decided to fly. Flap, flap, thud. It skimmed the bonnet, broke the wiper blade (not raining) and launched, probably dead, up over the top. In the mirror I saw the shape fall from the sky onto the BMW's bonnet. Of course he did not know it was coming, or what it was, just a football sized lump falling from the sky. The nose of the BMW dived, and for the rest of the journey home, about 7 miles, he was at least 200 yds behind.
Still makes me laugh now.
I suppose that, like many of us no doubt, someone who sits unreasonably close to my back bumper makes me feel very uncomfortable indeed - especially if, as happened the other day in heavy city traffic, they are on their mobile as well! In town, at low speeds it's an annoyance but out on national speed limited roads it's definitely dangerous. If I'm in heavy traffic where there is little prospect, or point, in overtaking slower vehicles, I like to give myself a safety "cushion" by approximately doubling my "only a fool breaks the 2 second rule" gap thereby ensuring that I have plenty of room to brake more gently if an emergency braking event becomes necessary. The down side unfortunately is that it often gets the person behind thoroughly "revved up" and increases their desire to pass me. Actually that's OK by me - I'd rather they were harassing the poor sod in front of me anyway! By the way, don't get me wrong, I'm no rolling traffic jam. I like to press on at a good speed where safe to do so. I rallied a Cooper "S" (1964) for a couple of years and was involved in international touring car racing for several years in my youth so know how to drive fast and, more importantly know how dangerous it is to do so inappropriately.
Advanced driver teaching suggests that is a vehicle is following too close, we add his 2 seconds ahead of us. My experience is that makes matters worse.
Most drivers are driving on their sub-conscious. When they arrive behind another car, their eyes see ahead, but their brain only 'sees' the car in front and the space in front of that. If the gap ahead of you is larger than their expectation, they may sit too close.
When safe, these people can be played with. Gently close the gap ahead, and at some point, the one behind drops back. You've found their gap threshold. Now drop back gently, and shortly the one behind will close up again. You can play yo-yos with them, or use the information gathered to adjust the safest space with regard to what's ahead and behind.
A larger gap ahead therefore may increase you risk, as the one behind focusses on your bumper. A shorter gap allows the one behind to focus on the one ahead of you, while you look further ahead if possible.
Most drivers are driving on their sub-conscious. When they arrive behind another car, their eyes see ahead, but their brain only 'sees' the car in front and the space in front of that. If the gap ahead of you is larger than their expectation, they may sit too close.
When safe, these people can be played with. Gently close the gap ahead, and at some point, the one behind drops back. You've found their gap threshold. Now drop back gently, and shortly the one behind will close up again. You can play yo-yos with them, or use the information gathered to adjust the safest space with regard to what's ahead and behind.
A larger gap ahead therefore may increase you risk, as the one behind focusses on your bumper. A shorter gap allows the one behind to focus on the one ahead of you, while you look further ahead if possible.
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I do not habitually tail gate but I am reasonably good at maintaining a constant speed. The number of time my speed has not changed, the road conditions have not changed yet for no reason the car in front has slowed down. I'll allow the gap to close, because sure enough they'll soon be back on the gas and the gap normalises. We will do it all over again 1/2 mile up the road.
The same characters will happily smash over pot holes then panic when the road is narrow (as many are down here) and they have to judge the car's width.
The same characters will happily smash over pot holes then panic when the road is narrow (as many are down here) and they have to judge the car's width.
I'm wondering how the driver-less cars will cope with the concertina scenarios of people driving too fast (in front) and too close (behind).
I'm wondering if that there is no an international standard about how algorithms operate and especially in the multi-lane traffic following scenarios then what happens on the lane changes, potential undertaking etc. and handling that impatient human driver.
Example: Train of cars running a a constant speed but one or more cars are leaving a bigger tempting gap for the impatient/stupid human driver to actually or be tempted to "jump" (for want of a better word). The jump could be N/S or O/S lane change.
What about insurance and claims. I would suspect that at least the driver-less vehicle will have full video/sensor information for front and side status. Not sure if rear end data is taken and action upon it taken. e.g. slowing down for a tail gaiter. If a vehicle has/causes a crash (possibly triggered by another vehicle/driver) then has the industry decided a to who pays? If the car/algorithm was at fault then is it your endurance cover (which you legally have to have) or is it the manufacturer.
I'm not proud of this but still smile about it to this day. Me and her Ladyship used to do lots of motor sport and would be travelling from home to various tracks in each of our cars. We chose to use legal EU CB kit to keep in touch. Not chit-chat but simple and desired basics of fuel, loo stops etc. (Note EU freqs in those days were not used in the UK so were still legal, not cluttered, and no bad language, in fact a pretty much private vehicle to vehicle comms.)
On one motorway trip as tail end charlie I was observing in the rear distance a bad motorist carving the traffic up with undertaking and over taking manoeuvres that were unsafe. As it happened we were approaching a motorway exit junction and I just had this feeling that you know what this guy was going to do. Last minute dive and carve up to exit. So I decided to call the boss on the CB with a pace adjustment for her along with the "stitch up plan". With both off us on the ball we forced this dick head driver to miss his junction and have to travel on down the motorway.
Like I said I'm not proud of this but it was done very safely but I mention it to show how fully aware human drivers focussed on driving, looking in their mirrors, not on hands free phones, etc. have that huge extra capacity to "pre-empt" and "out think" any given situation.
So if you are with me thus far we have an interesting scenario when human drivers can "challenge" not only each other but also those driver-less algorithms.
In this example this "bad motorist" did not predict that his plan of action/driving style would be picked up on by other motorists being fully aware and scanning for issues, and what these people may do.
It will be interesting to see how this whole driving landscape pads out.
I'm wondering if that there is no an international standard about how algorithms operate and especially in the multi-lane traffic following scenarios then what happens on the lane changes, potential undertaking etc. and handling that impatient human driver.
Example: Train of cars running a a constant speed but one or more cars are leaving a bigger tempting gap for the impatient/stupid human driver to actually or be tempted to "jump" (for want of a better word). The jump could be N/S or O/S lane change.
What about insurance and claims. I would suspect that at least the driver-less vehicle will have full video/sensor information for front and side status. Not sure if rear end data is taken and action upon it taken. e.g. slowing down for a tail gaiter. If a vehicle has/causes a crash (possibly triggered by another vehicle/driver) then has the industry decided a to who pays? If the car/algorithm was at fault then is it your endurance cover (which you legally have to have) or is it the manufacturer.
I'm not proud of this but still smile about it to this day. Me and her Ladyship used to do lots of motor sport and would be travelling from home to various tracks in each of our cars. We chose to use legal EU CB kit to keep in touch. Not chit-chat but simple and desired basics of fuel, loo stops etc. (Note EU freqs in those days were not used in the UK so were still legal, not cluttered, and no bad language, in fact a pretty much private vehicle to vehicle comms.)
On one motorway trip as tail end charlie I was observing in the rear distance a bad motorist carving the traffic up with undertaking and over taking manoeuvres that were unsafe. As it happened we were approaching a motorway exit junction and I just had this feeling that you know what this guy was going to do. Last minute dive and carve up to exit. So I decided to call the boss on the CB with a pace adjustment for her along with the "stitch up plan". With both off us on the ball we forced this dick head driver to miss his junction and have to travel on down the motorway.
Like I said I'm not proud of this but it was done very safely but I mention it to show how fully aware human drivers focussed on driving, looking in their mirrors, not on hands free phones, etc. have that huge extra capacity to "pre-empt" and "out think" any given situation.
So if you are with me thus far we have an interesting scenario when human drivers can "challenge" not only each other but also those driver-less algorithms.
In this example this "bad motorist" did not predict that his plan of action/driving style would be picked up on by other motorists being fully aware and scanning for issues, and what these people may do.
It will be interesting to see how this whole driving landscape pads out.
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This is a fairly easy one for driverless cars, they drive at an appropriate distance and brake when needed slowing down to maintain the gap and then speed back up again. If someone pulled in front and slammed on their brakes as you point out there are a multitude of sensors and scanners to show who is in the wrong and this would all be recorded.
There is actually a few videos now of Tesla’s avoiding motorway accidents because the car has seen the car in front of the car in front and stopped or slowed right down long before the driver ever saw what was about to happen. So there are serious benefits to self driving cars.
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Is this the same Tesla that drove into the side of a truck, killing the occupant who'd put their trust in autopilot?
The long term plan for driverless cars will be that they communicate with each other, so when the front car of a convoy brakes, they all do, not waiting for the gaps to close. Until we get to that, they will react, as will the next one, etc., with firm braking. A car diving into a gap will cause a chain reaction, and if they then pass through the gap, perhaps from lane 2 through to an exit, the driverless cars will then accelerate to close the gap again. For a while, could be fun playing with them, rudely awakening the occupants from their slumber, reading, etc.
As far as I understand the story, the car was on a highway, not a freeway, so like our A-roads, has intersections. Tesla specify these are not suitable for autopilot, and later versions of autopilot will not operate on sections of these roads with junctions/intersections. (See YouTube 'Tesla Driver' for many videos of autopilot not working for more than a few minutes at a time)
Driver was on a highway. American truck without underrun guards crossed the path of the Tesla. Tesla has a data recorder, which showed the car braked very firmly, then accelerated under the truck. This was as the cab passed, it braked, then as the space under the trailer passed, the Tesla radar saw a clear road again. Data recorder showed the driver did not react, at all. My guess he was asleep.
Newer Teslas have the radar a little higher I believe, and they then caught up with European autopilot systems (Mercedes S-class) and will squeak, a lot, if the driver lets go of the wheel for more than a few seconds. If no response, it will bring the car gently to a stop. Should be exciting in lane 3 of a motorway.
Autopilot will struggle with narrow country lanes. Humans can find firm grass verges, field entrances, etc., and pass with care. Self-driving can only be programmed with permanent passing places, as ad-hoc ones may be soft at times. Fully autonomous cars will know each other are coming, and sit and wait for as long as necessary, but when meeting any non-communicating car it will just sit and wait for the 'driver' to take over.
Autonomous cars will still need an occupant capable of taking over, so presumably the 'driver' will still need a licence. We think standards are poor now, wait until drivers only have to take over rarely, that'll be entertaining.
That event was mostly due to driver error.
As far as I understand the story, the car was on a highway, not a freeway, so like our A-roads, has intersections. Tesla specify these are not suitable for autopilot, and later versions of autopilot will not operate on sections of these roads with junctions/intersections. (See YouTube 'Tesla Driver' for many videos of autopilot not working for more than a few minutes at a time)
Driver was on a highway. American truck without underrun guards crossed the path of the Tesla. Tesla has a data recorder, which showed the car braked very firmly, then accelerated under the truck. This was as the cab passed, it braked, then as the space under the trailer passed, the Tesla radar saw a clear road again. Data recorder showed the driver did not react, at all. My guess he was asleep.
Newer Teslas have the radar a little higher I believe, and they then caught up with European autopilot systems (Mercedes S-class) and will squeak, a lot, if the driver lets go of the wheel for more than a few seconds. If no response, it will bring the car gently to a stop. Should be exciting in lane 3 of a motorway.
Autopilot will struggle with narrow country lanes. Humans can find firm grass verges, field entrances, etc., and pass with care. Self-driving can only be programmed with permanent passing places, as ad-hoc ones may be soft at times. Fully autonomous cars will know each other are coming, and sit and wait for as long as necessary, but when meeting any non-communicating car it will just sit and wait for the 'driver' to take over.
Autonomous cars will still need an occupant capable of taking over, so presumably the 'driver' will still need a licence. We think standards are poor now, wait until drivers only have to take over rarely, that'll be entertaining.
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The latest Tesla software update is even more able for both self driving and "summon" functions. The "Summon" uses a mobile phone app with "dead man's" controls that call the car and bring it to where you are standing. It's capable of taking the car through a car park but it's really aimed at getting it into or out of tight parking spaces. For example a narrow garage suddenly becomes useful as you can get out of the car before it parks itself.
Self driving is fine when the roads are wide with marked out lanes but humans are hopeless for taking over when needed. We get bored and don't react quickly enough. This makes self driving on ordinary roads and through town traffic very unlikely for the for-seeable. Long term I think self driving cars will be necessarily timid allowing aggressive human drivers to cut them up at junctions and overtakes. Quite how you get computer algorithms to deal with that is anyone's guess.
Self driving is fine when the roads are wide with marked out lanes but humans are hopeless for taking over when needed. We get bored and don't react quickly enough. This makes self driving on ordinary roads and through town traffic very unlikely for the for-seeable. Long term I think self driving cars will be necessarily timid allowing aggressive human drivers to cut them up at junctions and overtakes. Quite how you get computer algorithms to deal with that is anyone's guess.
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2.3 billion miles covered by Tesla’s auto pilot and you find one incident which was shown to be due to the driver being asleep and not watching the lorry turn across his path.....
How many driver incidents are there with people driven cars every day??
face it people make fore crap drivers, as the number of cars continue to increase on the road the future lies in self driving cars to remove the emotional gibbon from behind the wheel.
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Summon can be hilariously ****.
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"Summon" is a remote control feature that uses the cars sensors to make it a bit easier for the operator. It's as s*** as the nut that holds the iPhone. Summon the car across a main road and there will be problems. It's probably illegal to do that anyway.
I’ve seen some of the videos, it’s not a radio control life sized car, you essentially keep your finger on a virtual button on the iPhone screen which is a kill switch, take your finger off and the car stops, put it on and the car will move again, in essence the car does all the driving.
The problem is the summon feature is brand new only just out, released in the last week or so, so bearing that in mind it’s not had much real work learning experience based on thousands of cars, where as auto pilot has. Summon is a bit pointless, far quicker to just go and get in your car, but then it’s another part of learning for autonomous cars, which in theory will be driving about on their own in the future like automatic taxis ready to pick you up where ever you want. Part of that is going to be learning how to get around carparks, with people and obstacles as well as other cars coming from unusual directions.
At the moment autopilot only really works on highways are highway speeds.
The problem is the summon feature is brand new only just out, released in the last week or so, so bearing that in mind it’s not had much real work learning experience based on thousands of cars, where as auto pilot has. Summon is a bit pointless, far quicker to just go and get in your car, but then it’s another part of learning for autonomous cars, which in theory will be driving about on their own in the future like automatic taxis ready to pick you up where ever you want. Part of that is going to be learning how to get around carparks, with people and obstacles as well as other cars coming from unusual directions.
At the moment autopilot only really works on highways are highway speeds.
We live in a modern estate with quite high density housing and open plan front gardens. The builder laid two slabbed strips in front of my garage for the car to drive up and I then laid more slabs to end up with an area big enough for both cars side by side - I'm sure those of you who've followed some of my posts will have been able to get a fair idea from some of the pics I've posted. We are just down the road from the local crematorium (Mrs J threatens she's going to push me up there in a wheel barrow when my time comes, to save money. Actually I'd be all for that. Quite fancy a wicker or cardboard "container" too?) Anyway, being near this establishment, we become the overflow car park whenever a big funeral is taking place (Most Fridays - why are Fridays so busy?) The quality of parking and lack of consideration for locals sometimes has to be seen to be believed. Oh, and by the way, you don't dare to try tackling anyone on it or you get accused of "being insensitive" Consequently I tend to tolerate behavior I otherwise wouldn't. Well, this Friday just past, there was a portly middle aged fellow who tore up at great speed, in his Audi TT - a speed really inappropriate for a narrow residential street - and stopped halfway across my driveway end, leapt out with surprising agility, and had disappeared down the road and out of sight in the direction of the crem before I'd found my keys and unlocked the front door.
He actually left just enough room that I could probably have squeezed the Ibiza out onto the road but Mrs J, who was out shopping, would have had no hope of getting "Becky" into her normal space beside "Twink" - the Ibiza - I was going to put a note under his wiper but decided he was so stupidly parked I would "have a word" when he returned. Unfortunately I was answering a "call of nature" when he returned so I missed him altogether. Luckily funerals are not usually lengthy affairs. (But if you hear the bagpipes you can recon on it being a long one though) and on this occasion he was gone before Mrs J returned so really no inconvenience was cause, but it could have been so different and, with all the other cars taking up spaces, she would have had to try to park behind the Ibiza - which would, in it's own right, have caused a partial obstruction of the footpath! I wouldn't like to bet who would have been the more likely to get ticketed for obstruction?
He actually left just enough room that I could probably have squeezed the Ibiza out onto the road but Mrs J, who was out shopping, would have had no hope of getting "Becky" into her normal space beside "Twink" - the Ibiza - I was going to put a note under his wiper but decided he was so stupidly parked I would "have a word" when he returned. Unfortunately I was answering a "call of nature" when he returned so I missed him altogether. Luckily funerals are not usually lengthy affairs. (But if you hear the bagpipes you can recon on it being a long one though) and on this occasion he was gone before Mrs J returned so really no inconvenience was cause, but it could have been so different and, with all the other cars taking up spaces, she would have had to try to park behind the Ibiza - which would, in it's own right, have caused a partial obstruction of the footpath! I wouldn't like to bet who would have been the more likely to get ticketed for obstruction?
And while I'm being grumpy ---- We've owned Becky (2010 Panda) for a couple of years now, might even be nearly 3? and so far we've not had a bulb fail. However I noticed, last night, that the O/S number plate light was out. Today is a bright sunny but quite cold day up here in "Auld Reekie" so thought it'd be a good idea to do it before any rain sets in. Easy job anyway, the bulb holder/lens just pops out with a thin screwdriver.
So, armed with a wee screwdriver and a new festoon bulb, I opened the garage door and noticed this "devastating" scene:
It looks like the poor wee thing was on a bit of a "trip" (I'm a '60's child remember) Wonder if it was the "heady" residue of spilt fuel/Plus Gas/engine oils/etc? Whatever it was he's in a happier place now!
Then I went to change the bulb and disaster! Someone has, before we owned her, fitted a set of reversing sensors. It's actually quite a neat installation with the sensors and number plate surround all in one moulding. Problem is though that it occludes the bulb holder/lens so that it can't come out:
I've managed to get it about a third of the way out but it's just not happening! Going to have a look inside the tailgate itself - hoping it's (the number plate mount) screwed on in some way otherwise I may have to take the latch moulding off which will be a bit of a "phaff"
So, armed with a wee screwdriver and a new festoon bulb, I opened the garage door and noticed this "devastating" scene:
It looks like the poor wee thing was on a bit of a "trip" (I'm a '60's child remember) Wonder if it was the "heady" residue of spilt fuel/Plus Gas/engine oils/etc? Whatever it was he's in a happier place now!
Then I went to change the bulb and disaster! Someone has, before we owned her, fitted a set of reversing sensors. It's actually quite a neat installation with the sensors and number plate surround all in one moulding. Problem is though that it occludes the bulb holder/lens so that it can't come out:
I've managed to get it about a third of the way out but it's just not happening! Going to have a look inside the tailgate itself - hoping it's (the number plate mount) screwed on in some way otherwise I may have to take the latch moulding off which will be a bit of a "phaff"
I'd bet that the plate itself comes out of the surround somehow, and that the screws are hidden behind it.
That's what I was hoping too but the selling dealer seems to have stuck the new plate on - which has their garage name on it - with some REALLY STRONG glue/adhesive pads and I'm worried the plate will snap, it's bending alarmingly with no sign of giving in.
You could use a strong yarn or twine and saw under the plate to cut the double sided pads. Cheese wire if you have one!
