MIT looks to get self-driving cars shifted into slower lanes

QThe other day on Highway 85 between Blossom Hill and Cottle, I was doing 75 mph in the middle lane in light traffic and I happened on a Waymo vehicle going 65-70 in the middle lane. It made no attempt to move right, even though there was plenty of room. I passed on the right opting not to violate the sanctity of the car pool lane.

Shouldn’t automated vehicles have programming that makes them keep right except to pass, even though almost no one bothers to pay attention to this any more? — Eugene Ely, San Jose

AAuto experts at MIT are working on this issue. While the Waymo electric vehicle was behaving like it should — staying within the speed limit — this is not how the real world works. So MIT researchers want to make driverless cars change lanes more like human drivers do.

One way for autonomous vehicles to avoid collisions is to calculate buffer zones around their likely position to stay out of those buffer zones. This could allow for more lane changes, but if traffic is fast enough and heavy enough, pre-computed buffer zones may be too restrictive. An autonomous vehicle will fail to change lanes at all, whereas a human driver would zip around the road.

QIs the public ready to accept EVs? — Frank Armstrong, San Leandro

AGradually, yes. A survey last month by AAA found that 20 percent of Americans say they are likely to buy an electric vehicle the next time they are in the market for a new or used vehicle. That’s an increase from 15 percent in 2017.

But AAA also found that almost 73 percent of drivers would be afraid to ride in a fully self-driving vehicle.

When AAA asked the same question in January, 63 percent of drivers said they were afraid.

QWho is in charge of cleaning up Monterey Road? It is disgusting from San Jose to Morgan Hill. — Lili Saldana

ACaltrans, both cities and the county. This road could rank as the most littered in the South Bay. Not only is there the usual trash, but its a dumping ground for sofas, refrigerators and other large household items. San Jose recently approved money to clean up Monterey Road within its stretch.

QThere’s a new traffic light on Sunnyvale Avenue next to all the downtown Sunnyvale construction. The cross street has stop signs still on both sides, but the stoplight is up and has taped X’s over its lights. Drivers at this intersection are used to not being required to stop on Sunnyvale, yet the law requires stopping for inactive lights. I’ve both driven through and stopped (and gotten honked at once). What’s the right thing to do? — Karen Williams, Sunnyvale

AThe traffic signal is in the process of being installed, so drivers should continue to obey the posted stop signs.