Volvo’s Self-Driving Cars: Stealthy and Safe
Volvo’s decision to keep its self-driving cars unmarked stems from concerns about potential hostility from human drivers. The carmaker believes that drivers might deliberately try to provoke the autonomous vehicles by engaging in unsafe maneuvers like harsh braking or blocking their path. This strategy comes after studies revealed that some drivers are looking forward to the arrival of self-driving cars precisely because they think they can bully them due to their programmed safety protocols.
While self-driving car networks could potentially learn to identify and penalize bad drivers, Volvo prioritizes avoiding any situations that could put its test cars at risk. The automaker is aware that human drivers might act unpredictably and potentially endanger the autonomous vehicles if they are aware of their presence.
This cautious approach highlights the challenges and complexities of integrating self-driving cars into our existing transportation system. It also underscores the importance of human behavior and its potential impact on the future of autonomous driving.
