> I think the industry will have the safety numbers to back up any policy decision
Why are you then confident that safety numbers will carry the day? When someone is killed by a driverless car, that's going to be an emotional issue, and the appetite for cold hard data may be limited.
If safety numbers were really what people were after, it's hard to see how the US would have the gun culture that it does.
Engineers put far too much faith in data, and it's why they're often so bad at politics. Look at the incoming president; what people want is frequently more important than what is.
You might be right, but it people really cared about car deaths they would be banned. Almost a million people are killed every year due to cars, 10x injured.
You're right, I'm projecting a level of reasonableness that may not be there. It will be an emotional issue, and it will probably be influenced heavily by how the media decides to play it out. Elon Musk is literally every millenial's hero, if it takes long enough that the voting population shifts heavily into that demo getting the support would be easy. But maybe not right now.
Why are you then confident that safety numbers will carry the day? When someone is killed by a driverless car, that's going to be an emotional issue, and the appetite for cold hard data may be limited.
If safety numbers were really what people were after, it's hard to see how the US would have the gun culture that it does.
Engineers put far too much faith in data, and it's why they're often so bad at politics. Look at the incoming president; what people want is frequently more important than what is.