Hypothetical question… if you lose your license, can you ride in a self driving car?

[unclebilly]

Thinking about the auto driving semi truck thread… who is the operator if it isn’t someone in the vehicle?

Taking this to the next level… what if someone lost their license for a dui… could they own a self driving car to get around? What if they owned a taxi company that owned the self driving car to drive them around?

[gregpark]

If you could get away with that you should be able to be intoxicated and get behind the wheel. I'd bet you're in trouble in either case

[unclebilly]

Do you have to be sober to ride in a self driving taxi?

[gregpark]

I'd guess it would be legal if you're in the back seat. After all, you're trying to do the right thing. I'll ask my CHP son in law

[masraum]

And this is why I say that the laws are highly unlikely to have been updated for self-driving vehicles.

[gregpark]

My son in law confirmed. If you're not legal to drive you can't be behind the wheel. If you're drunk and in the back seat of a self driving taxi you're good and to be commended on your decision to call a cab

[unclebilly]

So what if you own the ‘cab’?

There is a loophole here. You can definitely ride in a waymo when drunk.

[Dixie]

Why would you even need a license? You don't need one to ride in an Uber. My point is, I doubt anyone will own a self driving car. You'll subscribe to a service instead. Why have your car sit parked 90% of the time when it could be working for you day, and night?

[Crowbob]

My guess is when you buy an autonomous vehicle, you will have to sign a waiver of some sort that says anything bad that happens is your fault. Just like owning a gun. What happens with that gun is the owner’s responsibility. Period.

[unclebilly]

Originally Posted by Dixie

Why would you even need a license? You don't need one to ride in an Uber. My point is, I doubt anyone will own a self driving car. You'll subscribe to a service instead.

That depends on where you live.

We can’t even get uber out in the country, you know where we make the food, before it gets to the grocery stores…

If you live in town, or in a large center, you bet a service will exist if it doesn’t already. If you live rural, why couldn’t you own one?

[gregpark]

Originally Posted by unclebilly

So what if you own the ‘cab’?

There is a loophole here. You can definitely ride in a waymo when drunk.

I would think if you're riding in the back of a legally self driving car for hire you'd be legal. If this scenario hasn't popped up in court yet I'm sure it will of someone goes to jail for doing this. If you're an intoxicated passenger in a publicly available vehicle could the authorities hang you on a drunk in public charge? If the cop doesn't like your attitude they'll get you for something rest assured

[gregpark]

Originally Posted by Dixie

I doubt anyone will own a self driving car.

Plenty do already. I sold a car a few years back and a woman who lives an hour away came to look at it. She pulled up in a new Tesla S and told me she sat back and watched a video for the entire trip

[Steve Carlton]

Did she sit in the driver’s seat? I believe that’s required in case intervention is required. I’m not aware of any cars that self drive where you can sit in the back as a privately owned vehicle. But I don’t know forum sure.

[Arizona_928]

What’s the point of a driver’s license if a machine does it autonomously…?

Does each vehicle require a separate license?

[gregpark]

She sat in the driver's seat and watched a video on the huge screen in the Tesla. I said you must be pretty confident in the car's ability to drive itself. She said yes, the car drives better than her

[gregpark]

She also let me drive her S. Fastest car I've ever driven

[PorscheGAL]

I have been driving Teslas for a few years now.

I'm not sure how that guy was sleeping without the car noticing. My car scolds me and, after several warnings, will turn off the self-driving if I am not looking out the front window.

I also have Full self-driving, and I do not trust it completely. If I am on the interstate, I'm ok but it makes some weird choices sometimes.

[Tobra]

I guarantee you would be cited for this in California

[flipper35]

Self driving as in the vehicle has no steering wheel? I would think license or no you are good.

Level II like the Tesla or GM SuperCruise you need to.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

My guess is when you buy an autonomous vehicle, you will have to sign a waiver of some sort that says anything bad that happens is your fault. Just like owning a gun. What happens with that gun is the owner’s responsibility. Period.

Except the gun can’t remove itself from your safe, walk down the street, and shoot your neighbor. I’ve also never signed a waiver for purchasing a gun. But I agree the legal liability aspect will be interesting for autonomous cars.