SELF-DRIVE CAR WILL BE ‘HERE IN A YEAR’
A sleep at the wheel for motorists
DRIVERLESS cars will soon become so advanced that owners will be able to fall asleep at the wheel.
Billionaire Elon Musk said his hi-tech Tesla vehicles will not need human steering.
He claimed that by the end of next year drivers will be able to “essentially fall asleep and wake up at their destination”. Tesla has been working on self-driving vehicles for several years. But they have been involved in a string of accidents.
Musk said: “I think we will be ‘feature-complete’ on full self-driving this year, meaning the car will be able to find you in a parking lot, pick you up, take you all the way to your destination without an intervention this year.
“My guess as to when we would think it is safe for somebody to essentially fall asleep and wake up at their destination? Probably towards the end of next year.”
A report released earlier this month slammed the UK for its poor roads and lack of mobile internet connection.
Self-driving cars need to be constantly linked up to the internet, so that they can know where other vehicles are. Matthew Avery, from Thatcham Research, which studies vehicle safety, said: “Automated driving is closer to becoming a reality.”
He added: “Safety must remain a priority, as being first isn’t good enough if it isn’t safe.”