Hands Free Insurance Free driving

[#1]

With many car manufacturers shifting focus to electric cars - VW for example plans to be a world leader by 2025 - and driverless cars round the corner so to speak - should we still be required to have car insurance given that the 'driver' can hardly be held responsible or indeed liable if the vehicle in which they are being driven is involved in an accident with another driverless car coming from the other direction or whatever. 

Hands free is going to mean insurance free surely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWgrvNHjKkY

[#2]

You know what insurance companies are like, they'll lobby to make sure you have to have insurance by law to keep vehicle owners held by the short & curlies, because they can...

[#3]

you'd still need it for fire and theft at least..

[#4]

Indeed, but I would not be legally obliged to have it?

Moderator's note by Adie (Dvorak): Full quote of preceding post removed as per the forum rules

[#5]

Apparently there will have to be substantial legislation and insurance rethinking as a result of 'driver-less' vehicles.

[#6]

Think you will still need it to protect yourself from people claiming you ran into them while they are in a world of their own gazing down at their mobiles,manufacturers don`t help either showing ads of someone dancing round the centre of LONDON with their eyes closed with a pair of headphones on.  

[#7]

Well yes but that would be optional I'm guessing added to which it might well fit into any existing personal liability insurance you may have with your Home Insurance policy but as has been said, I'm sure they will find a way to make it obligatory. 

[#8]

Currently, when the cops are chasing the robbers ( aka bad guys )... they concentrate on who was driving the car,... especially if they "decamp" and do a runner... the chopper cops try to focus on where the driver legs it too,,

so what will happen when the bad guys get these  "auto driver" cars... who is/was driving ?  ? 

[#9]

And another thing, "When all cars are driverless, will we need pedestrian crossings?"

One answer here maintains that "algorithms will never detect people who look like they're about to cross"........ let alone detect the possibility of an accident!

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/oct/26/driverless-cars-pedestrian-crossings

[#10]

There should be a merit point system for drivers who enforce Darwinian Law in respect of smartphone zombies on street crossings. 

[#11]

Be afraid, be very afraid 

The big corporations are interested because they see it as another opportunity to take over control of your lives!  Instead of owning a car and driving it at will you will be using a taxi service and going where they are willing to take you. Also it will be PAYG you won't be able to own anything. I would lump this idea with smartmeters and the cloud I don't want anything to do with it. 

Also do we keep older vehicle technology going for the third world? Driverless technology won't suit them!

[#12]

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Minivanman wrote:

And another thing, "When all cars are driverless, will we need pedestrian crossings?"

Good question.

The number of times I see women with kids at the end of school day standing by the edge of the road at a crossing point gossiping!

They have no intention of crossing until every last bit of tittle tattle and rumour is exchanged.

It would be quicker to get out and walk.

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[#13]

@Strat  and what about those parents who stand at the side of the road, where there is no pedestrian crossing, ( maybe just an "island" with their beloved cherished child in a pushchair, almost in the roadway itself,  putting their child at risk whilst they stand (relatively) safely on the pavement... , 

[#14]

If never ceases to amaze me the number of people who will try to cross a busy road with their child(ren) in hand when there is a zebra crossing or set of pedestrian lights just a few hundred yards down the road.

I used to walk a fair distance with my daughter before crossing as, apart from being safer, it promoted good road safety to her.

[#15]