Readers’ letters: Write to us and win. You know you want to.

I read Mark’s editorial on autonomous cars in the August issue with interest. I have not yet seen anyone highlighting the problem that may keep fully autonomous cars off our roads for a long time to come. It’s not a technical issue: developments in AI and ever-growing computer power will solve the guidance and decision-making problems, at least to the point where autonomous cars will be safer than human-driven ones. Well, safe in terms of avoiding accidents more consistently than humans can, that is.

Where they will fall down is in being too polite and careful: That’s great in a world of polite and careful people, or at least one not populated by a percentage of people who are anything but. I see two

brand new hazards that self-driving cars will expose us to – ransom begging, and sitting-duck robbery.

The first is more of a nuisance, cost, and timewaster. A person on foot steps in front of your car. It stops. He or she waits. The car waits, with infinite patience. The impasse is broken when you pay the person to get out of the way. Lather, rinse, repeat.

The second could be deadly: the person stepping in front of your car is a robber who has immobilised you simply and effectively, and is now about to separate you from your possessions (or worse).

I cannot see a way to program self-driving cars to drive in a way that would scare an ill-intentioned pedestrian out of your way. Deciding on when such action is warranted seems far too thorny a problem to automate, not least when a corporation is considering the possible legal consequences and damages suits that could arise.

Summon help from the police? Unlikely in our country, where emergency response times can sometimes be measured in hours… And I have even driven in parts of the UK and other countries where I would not care to have to rely on official rescue from such a situation.

I’m far more sanguine about autonomous air taxis. These scaled-up drones are stable, easy to fly, and can stop and hover. The air lanes are free of pedestrians, potholes (yes, there are air pockets but not the same problem!), cyclists and traffic lights. All traffic around you will be identified and detectable in 3D, and traffic in different directions can be vertically separated. It is in many respects a simpler environment to navigate and police. There I have high hopes (no pun intended). CHRIS CROZIER

Yours is a thought-provoking letter, Chris. I generally don’t like to dwell on negatives – like crime in our country – in the pages of Popular Mechanics, but there is a time and place to consider its implications in the bigger picture, and when anticipating the variables associated with autonomous vehicles, I think it’s appropriate. And you’re right – I don’t think I’ve seen anyone else mention this as a potential drawback. Knowing that I can, at the very least, slam down the accelerator and speed away if I encounter a questionable situation while driving is reassuring. For your wellconsidered contribution, you’ve won yourself a Rockler Dust Separator valued at R3 200. – Mark, Editor