Would you step into a driverless car?

Written By: - Date published: 3:18 pm, May 11th, 2018 - 51 comments
Categories: energy, sustainability, tech industry, transport - Tags:

Would you send your child off to a party in a driverless car?

It’s quite a step putting yourself into one, but what about sending someone you love off into the world in some mobile microwave?

Who is accountable when there’s a crash?

Who picks up the bill for specialist medical care when your child gets injured inside a driverless car?

Is it better or worse on balance to have an actual human being in the car to react to things?

We know taxis and taxi drivers are regulated by NZTA, but Uber drivers claim not to be taxis and are hence very poorly regulated if at all. What happens when there’s not even a driver?

There is no regulatory framework in place at all for driverless vehicles with passengers. That means, no one can be held accountable for what goes on. But before you get to rules, you need some practical ethics.

Well, the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure has been doing some thinking about this.

 

For those who are keen on when this is going to start here, no-one is predicting fully autonomous vehicles will be rolling out this year.

As for who’s winning the driverless car race, you decide.

Skepticism is appropriate after watching the Jetsons so many years ago: I’m still waiting for my jetpack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRKmhjZy7hw

While  companies are advancing in their development of such vehicles, I’m less concerned about the techno, and more about how this is going to impact the ethics of everyday life. Here’s a few of the guidelines from the German Ministry of Transport:

  1. The primary purpose of partly and fully automated transport systems is to improve safety for all road users (…)
  2. (…) The licensing of automated systems is not justifiable unless it promises to produce at least a diminution in harm compared with human driving, in other words a positive balance of risks.
  3. The public sector is responsible for guaranteeing the safety of the automated and connected systems introduced and licensed in the public street environment. Driving systems thus need official licensing and monitoring. (…)
  4. (…) The purpose of all governmental and political regulatory decisions is thus to promote the free development and the protection of individuals. In a free society, the way in which technology is statutorily fleshed out is such that a balance is struck between maximum personal freedom of choice in a general regime of development and the freedom of others and their safety.
  5. Automated and connected technology should prevent accidents wherever this is practically possible. (…)
  6. The introduction of more highly automated driving systems, especially with the option of automated collision prevention, may be socially and ethically mandated if it can unlock existing potential for damage limitation. Conversely, a statutorily imposed obligation to use fully automated transport systems or the causation of practical inescapabilty is ethically questionable if it entails submission to technological imperatives (prohibition on degrading the subject to a mere network element).
  7. In hazardous situations that prove to be unavoidable, despite all technological precautions being taken, the protection of human life enjoys top priority in a balancing of legally protected interests. Thus, within the constraints of what is technologically feasible, the systems must be programmed to accept damage.
  8. (…) (I)t would be desirable for an independent public sector agency (for instance a Federal Bureau for the Investigation of Accidents Involving Automated Transport Systems or a Federal Office for Safety in Automated and Connected Transport) to systematically process the lessons learned.
  9. In the event of unavoidable accident situations, any distinction based on personal features (age, gender, physical or mental constitution) is strictly prohibited. It is also prohibited to offset victims against one another.

There’s twenty of them, so that’s just a taste of what the Germans have been thinking. The full text is in the link above. When you boil them down, you start getting to Isaac Asimov’s three rules for robots, which he considered way back in 1942 – during the great accelerated world-mechanisation of World War Two:

  1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
  2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
  3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second laws.

Driverless trains are now nothing new, in fact they are rolling them out in Sydney this year – and I’m sure they will arrive shortly in Auckland.

 

What is also underway is driverless air-taxis in New Zealand. Note they are electric. Again, they are having to invent the regulatory system when there is no driver to regulate.

 

But actual road cars? Surely this needs human judgement? Autonomous vehicles are not going to radically decrease congestion. They might make T3 lanes a bit more attractive and efficient, but if that’s the sum total of the revolution, I want my money back.

We’ve been waiting 30 years to figure out when and how the next wave of automation would be as revolutionary as the car itself. Of all the needless waste of human life and time popularized by automation over the last 70 years, driving cars is the worst. It’s going to be a massive liberation, but with liberation comes the human need for rules. So far there are none.

51 comments on “Would you step into a driverless car? ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Visubversa 1
    11 May 2018 at 3:50 pm

    One of the problems with driverless cars is that people will want to own them. But, as they will not want to pay for parking them when away from home, this is likely to double most journeys. Car takes one parent to work – goes home. Car takes kids to school or schools, goes home. Car takes other parent or work or whatever – goes home. End of the day – repeat in reverse. It may mean that people own only 1 car instead of 2, but there will be at least the same effect on congestion. A car is a car is a car!

    • Ed 1.1
      11 May 2018 at 5:35 pm

      Yes trains and buses beat any cars.

      • Phil 1.1.1
        13 May 2018 at 6:43 pm

        Those trains and buses do the same routine – go a place, go home, go a place, go home, multiple times in a day.

    • katipo 1.2
      11 May 2018 at 6:15 pm

      Agreed the current path the private sector is heading down with their autonomous cars just seem to be more of the same on steroids.
      Time for a paradigm shift.

      We would be much better rolling out a city wide network of centrally controlled, publicly owned, small (3 or 4 person) electric pod-cars on their own separated guide system. Much like a more extensive version of the system they have at Heathrow Terminal 5.
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ULTra_(rapid_transit)

      This system has many advantages over owning a private car (weather it be autonomous or not) and also a lot of advantages over buses & trams too i.e.
      1. The technology to build them is already proven today.
      2. They are simple and cheap to produce and use less resources to do so.
      3. Don’t need a licence to operate them – so good for kids, elderly, disabled or those going to the pub.
      4. Takes you were you want to go without stops as you are not sharing the pod with others and can operate 24/7
      5 Pods can be routed to where the need is (i.e capacity can match demand in real time) so short waiting times and no need for timetables.
      6. The small size means the guide network is cheaper to build than roads or tram lines and could even be routed directly into buildings.
      7. Better utilization compared with buses trains or even SUV’s which are often cruising around half empty.
      8. You don’t have to own the pods or have a place to store them.
      9. Being centrally controlled the entire network can be managed more efficiently don’t need wait at traffic lights, pods heading in the same direction can travel close to reduce overall drag.
      10. Being on their own guide means they way simpler than autonomous cars
      11. Can be easily scaled & expanded eg start with a small CBD system between say hospital-car park buildings-university-large buildings then expand it out as demand dictates.

    • alwyn 1.3
      11 May 2018 at 7:26 pm

      A very simple question
      You say “people will want to own them”.
      Why on earth would anyone want to own one, and do you actually have any evidence that owning a car will remain a desirable thing when transport as a service will be available?

      If you can summon a vehicle that would come to you, take you to where you want to go and then leave you why would you want to own it?
      There need be no capital outlay, no insurance to pay, no storage for the vehicle, no parking charges, just a fee/km that will be much less than it costs you to run your existing vehicle.
      I would love to get rid of having to own a car and to have to bother worrying about the thing. The sooner AV are available the better.
      The only people who will want to own cars in 10 years will be petrol-heads and they will probably be banned because they will be involved in to many accidents.

      • Draco T Bastard 1.3.1
        11 May 2018 at 7:47 pm

        Why on earth would anyone want to own one, and do you actually have any evidence that owning a car will remain a desirable thing when transport as a service will be available?

        Same reasons why they want to own them now when transport as a service is already available in the form of taxis/buses and trains.

        If you can summon a vehicle that would come to you, take you to where you want to go and then leave you why would you want to own it?

        How’s that going to decrease congestion?

        There need be no capital outlay, no insurance to pay, no storage for the vehicle, no parking charges, just a fee/km that will be much less than it costs you to run your existing vehicle.

        All that is true now or, to be more precise, the insurance and storage costs and parking charges and running costs are all in the one fare – just as they will be for driverless cars.

        The only people who will want to own cars in 10 years will be petrol-heads and they will probably be banned because they will be involved in to many accidents.

        So, you’re calling people who own BMWs, Porsches and Rolls Royce all petrol-heads?

        Because I can assure you that all those people will want to keep their status symbols.

        • alwyn 1.3.1.1
          11 May 2018 at 8:47 pm

          A brief comment on your points.
          “transport as a service is already available in the form of taxis/buses and trains.”
          Taxis are very expensive, compared to the estimates for an AV. Perhaps a tenth of the price. Buses, much less trains will still be more expensive. As well they don’t come to your door and let you off at your destination. You have to get to the station, or bus stop at one end and get from the stop at the other end to where you really want to go. Great fun in the rain of course. They are also slower as they have to stop frequently along the way to let other people on or off.

          “How’s that going to decrease congestion”.
          AVs, which can communicate with each other can travel much closer together. You won’t need the human requirement of a 2 second rule. They also won’t have to be parked along the roadside for long periods and you certainly won’t need them going round and round looking for a place to park. Imagine an extra lane on each road in each direction for moving vehicles rather than parked ones.

          “BMWs, Porsches and Rolls Royce all petrol-heads”.
          Of course they are. And I talk as a former Merc owner. How could you possibly consider them anything else?
          A car provides transport. Why do people think they need BMW 7 series with a chauffer just to get from the Office to the Airport? The only reason they have those cars is that it reflects their own opinion of their status. Bullshit of course but they want something to tell themselves that they matter

          • Draco T Bastard 1.3.1.1.1
            11 May 2018 at 10:57 pm

            Taxis are very expensive, compared to the estimates for an AV. Perhaps a tenth of the price.

            Probably true but if everyone used taxies the price would come down. This is part of my point. As everyone will still want to own the price of an AV taxi is still going to be relatively expensive.

            Buses, much less trains will still be more expensive.

            Buses and trains are far, far cheaper than cars. I’d say that it’s our delusional financial system that makes it seem the other way but the reality is that when you count the actual costs of cars up they’re far more expensive. They simply don’t have the economies of scale that public transport has and they can never reach it.

            AVs, which can communicate with each other can travel much closer together.

            True but 72 cars are still going to take up more space than one bus. This is the problem and it get exponentially worse as outer suburbs feed into main roads as people head into town.

            The only reason they have those cars is that it reflects their own opinion of their status.

            True but that’s why a lot of people have cars – even the ones that don’t have BMWs and other signs egotism.

            • David Mac 1.3.1.1.1.1
              12 May 2018 at 10:17 am

              Yeah, I think there will be those that want to own them. Luxury seekers like bespoke. Speed lovers want a 500kw nuclear chip powered job. Safety heads will get the ‘Withstands being dropped from the Skytower’ one.

              I think it will be cool to not own one and just app up the one required, get the hedge trimmings to the methane plant in a little dump truck one…I needn’t go with it…. or a kayak to the coast.

              I guess some females do but it seems to be mainly guys that think we are way better drivers than we actually are. I think that’s one of the big sells for the autonomous car: “Yep, they really are better than you Buddy, better than Shumacher, Fangio and Senna combined.”

              I’d try and be guided by the facts rather than my constantly shoulder tapping emotions and trust them.

    • Me 1.4
      15 May 2018 at 12:24 pm

      It’s actually looking more like car companies will be retaining ownership of cars for ease of updates and recalls and leasing them out on driverless UBER or similar themselves.

      Some people will buy and they could lease the car whenever they weren’t using it and make a little money.

  2. Stunned Mullet 2
    11 May 2018 at 4:00 pm

    ‘Would you send your child off to a party in a driverless car?’

    No

    • Cinny 2.1
      11 May 2018 at 4:25 pm

      +1

    • Phil 2.2
      13 May 2018 at 6:48 pm

      Have you ever put your child on a plane? Because you’re entrusting their life to a robot/computer. In fact, you’re many many times more likely to die in a plane crash because of human (i.e. pilot) error than because of technical failure or malfunction. Take off and landing (historically the most dangerous parts of the journey) are now almost completely auto-piloted.

      Boston Dynamics has already built a robot that runs and jumps across rough terrain better than you can. The technology behind driverless cars doesn’t get distracted by the radio or a cellphone the way you sometimes do.

      I would rather send my child to a party in a driverless car, than in one that you’re driving.

  3. ropata 3
    11 May 2018 at 4:12 pm

    AVs/EVs are a last gasp effort by the dinosaur auto industry to continue clogging up the roads. Public Transport (and cycling!) is the way of the future. Anyone who plays Sim City knows you need a decent f%@#king train system. Millennials increasingly can’t be bothered with driving licenses and the huge expense of car ownership.

    Unlike last century, car ownership doesn’t represent freedom any more.

    • greywarshark 3.1
      11 May 2018 at 5:22 pm

      What about moving pavements with a division down the middle so two people can stand across-ways but be separated and can lean on an arm rest, in their own separate space, rest their laptop etc. It would be open at the sides but with a light roof. People might like to talk to their offsider, as if they were on a bus seat. Reduces cycling, there would be short stops at stations, the platform and floor of the trolley would be at same height. It would keep the price down and avoid tons of cyclists getting in each other’s way and preventing the enjoyment and safety of walking on a FOOTPATH.

  4. ropata 4
    11 May 2018 at 4:15 pm

    I am not at all confident that an AI is capable of interpreting its physical surroundings from a few cameras and applying defensive driving tactics in potentially risky situations.

    e.g.

    A ball rolls into the street …
    A school bus is at a bus stop…
    Merging onto the motorway, and other cars trying to steal your space…
    Someone driving erratically nearby…

    • Cinny 4.1
      11 May 2018 at 4:28 pm

      As well what if you see someone in trouble/medical emergency etc on the side of the road, could you ask the car to stop so you could help them?

    • McFlock 4.2
      11 May 2018 at 4:33 pm

      Actually, those are the easiest things to do more safely with AI than humans. The anomaly is clear, the response is obvious, and the key to safety is the reaction time.

      The more difficult things are like a recent street realignment where I live, where the lane lines were crappily painted over and good luck finding your correct lane across the intersection on a dark, wet night. What to do then needs a human.

      • Katipo 4.2.1
        11 May 2018 at 11:57 pm

        Those are defiantly not the easiest things to do, if they were we would all be being driven by computers by now. The crude systems available now only work on well defined motorways and require vast arrays of sensors, radar and massively complex computer software running on systems capable of doing super high-speed realtime simultaneous calculations that add a 10% overhead to the efficiency of the vehicle.

        • McFlock 4.2.1.1
          13 May 2018 at 10:39 pm

          But “well defined highways” wasn’t the cases lined up – that was basic hazard avoidance by identifing anomalies. Balls coming into streets, that sort of thing. Even school buses need thestandard sign that can be used as a currently-existing cue.

          Sure, they need an array of sensors, but the problem isn’t interpreting a sudden object in the road. It’s things like identifying intersections and the give way rules. Muddy lanes vs the shitty lawn next to the muddy lane.

    • Draco T Bastard 4.3
      11 May 2018 at 7:49 pm

      Yes, the problem with driver-less cars is the people driving the other cars.

  5. ianmac 5
    11 May 2018 at 4:33 pm

    When/if driverless cars are common they know a number of cars ahead and a number of cars behind and to either side. They “talk” to each other and predict problems and take actions accordingly. Not sure about the ball/cat/child on the road though.
    Maybe “owning” a car will be obsolete. Therefore all cars will know each other.

  6. Paul Campbell 6
    11 May 2018 at 4:55 pm

    not one that hasn’t done millions of safe driving miles in NZ with NZ road signs and markings, driving on NZ’s side of the road, with NZ’s road rules, knows how to predict NZ’s shitty drivers and that can recognise people [deleted]

    [Take your racist tripe elsewhere Paul. One week ban.] – Bill

  7. bwaghorn 7
    11 May 2018 at 5:01 pm

    Can you get plastered and then get your priceless car to take you home ?

  8. greywarshark 8
    11 May 2018 at 5:28 pm

    Milkmen doing the same route morning after morning with the same horse,
    could find if they fell over, got sidetracked, that the horse moved over the same route and then home all on their own. They didn’t deliver the milk though.
    I’m sure AI could be trained to read the notes left by people and leave the required amount, alter the order, give cash change, put on hold etc.

    • McFlock 8.1
      11 May 2018 at 5:30 pm

      The milk will be delivered by drone within minutes of your ordering it, your account deducted by the requisite amount…

  9. McFlock 9
    11 May 2018 at 5:28 pm

    I reckon by the time I can afford one, they’ll probably be significantly safer than me driving one 🙂

    • alwyn 9.1
      11 May 2018 at 7:35 pm

      What if you didn’t have to own it at all?
      Just summon one to collect you when you want to go somewhere.
      What is this primeval urge people have to own something they only use for about 4% of the time? I would estimate that the average car does about 14,000 km/year.
      At, say, 40kph this is only about 1 hour/day.
      Shared AVs, available to summon on request would, at a guess be able to get at least 10 times the usage.

  10. greywarshark 10
    11 May 2018 at 5:39 pm

    I think I like the gang of the human chain, not the metal or polymer one. How’s
    your boy, did he get into the team wave and query to the person is good. Have a pseudo thing put the milk right into my hand or not leave it if it can’t be put in the requisite light shade for maximum milk quality, is like living in a laboratory
    with me the lab rat.

  11. Timeforacupoftea 11
    11 May 2018 at 7:40 pm

    Never ever will I get in a driverless car.
    Times three in this house, out of three.

    Wait one moment ……. my dog would like one and would use it 24 hours per day.

  12. Draco T Bastard 12
    11 May 2018 at 7:56 pm

    Would you send your child off to a party in a driverless car?

    Yes but not until the banned human drivers. Those idiots are dangerous.

    Who is accountable when there’s a crash?

    https://thestandard.org.nz/why-insurance-should-be-a-state-monopoly/

    In fact, that’s why health treatment is free now.

    Who picks up the bill for specialist medical care when your child gets injured inside a driverless car?

    See above.

    Is it better or worse on balance to have an actual human being in the car to react to things?

    Worse.

    We know taxis and taxi drivers are regulated by NZTA, but Uber drivers claim not to be taxis and are hence very poorly regulated if at all. What happens when there’s not even a driver?

    Things get better but will still need to be properly regulated.

  13. Draco T Bastard 13
    11 May 2018 at 8:03 pm

    Autonomous vehicles are not going to radically decrease congestion. They might make T3 lanes a bit more attractive and efficient, but if that’s the sum total of the revolution

    Cars, no matter if they’re electric, self-drive or whatnot are incredibly inefficient and simply shouldn’t exist.

  14. NZJester 14
    11 May 2018 at 8:33 pm

    I would never trust a driverless car. Just look at all the security holes that people are finding in hardware and software to gain access to computers including those in cars. At the Black Hat security conference in 2015, for instance, two automotive cybersecurity researchers, Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek showed off their work to remotely hack, control, and paralyze a 2014 Jeep Cherokee. They showed they could also disable its brakes at low speed and instead of paralyzing it they could have actually speed it up or turned its wheels.
    If a hacker can do that to a car that has an actual driver, imagine what they could do if they managed to hack a driverless car. Image what a terrorist organization could do if they turned their eyes toward driverless cars, and hacking them instead of trying to build bombs. They could potentially easily kill far more people with the press of a key to launch a virus into driverless cars than they could by exploding a bomb. There have been cases in the past too of unmanned rockets having to be blown up as they started to go off course because someone installed the wrong information into their control system. What if someone sends out an updated map with wrong information to the car and it puts the passenger in danger?
    They say computers never make mistakes, but unfortunately, the people putting the information into them are human and extremely prone to mistakes.

  15. greywarshark 15
    11 May 2018 at 10:29 pm

    Think of that little girl who was kidnapped in Portugal. The grief, the searching,
    the guilt, the stress, the never-ending questions. How would you feel if you put your child or children in a driverless car and it was hijacked and your kids ransomed? There also is a duty of care. People with children are supposed to keep them close all the time. I think a child has to be over 14 before being left in custody. I don’t think leaving your children to be both supervised and driven by a driverless car would be regarded as responsible or legal.

    • AsleepWhileWalking 15.1
      12 May 2018 at 6:15 am

      Age you can leave child unsupervised is 12, yeah I agree.

      Irresponsible and invites predatory behavior.

    • Ad 15.2
      13 May 2018 at 6:38 am

      Was she kidnapped by a preprogrammed driverless car?

    • Phil 15.3
      14 May 2018 at 11:17 am

      How would you feel if you put your child or children in a driverless car and it was hijacked and your kids ransomed?

      Probably exactly the same as I would feel if my child was kidnapped and ransomed right now?

      What a bizarre world you must live in…

  16. AsleepWhileWalking 16
    12 May 2018 at 6:12 am

    I think Peachtree City has it right. Everyone has a golf cart or two and drives around in that as most trips are short distance eg to school.

    Peachtree City is designed specifically to allow this.

    Much better for kids independence (driving age for Peachtree golf carts is 16 but I think it used to be 13), less chance of serious accident, and I’m guessing a shitload cheaper than a driverless car at present.

    I find driving pleasurable so wouldn’t want to give it up under any circumstances. Occasionally I even enjoy a good parallel park, it’s even better without parking assist.

  17. Graeme 17
    12 May 2018 at 12:11 pm

    It’s happening and here, both in use and development.

    The foreseeable AV future is probably something more like this,

    https://thespinoff.co.nz/business/05-02-2018/new-zealands-driverless-future-is-finally-here-and-its-coming-first-to-christchurch-airport/

    “Beyond their use in airports, Matthews says the shuttles — which currently include four different models of varying shapes and sizes — also have the potential to be used in other controlled environments, such as university campuses, retirement villages, recreational areas and tourist locations. Eventually, he hopes they can be used on New Zealand’s public roads alongside regular vehicles where the shuttles can be used as a last mile solution.”

    The developers also see potential for “linked” AVs to replace busses and light rail,

    “The potential is these vehicles can convoy and move lots of people without all the infrastructure like a railway system,” he says. “Because of their low-cost deployment and their capabilities, they’ve got the possibility of giving transport flexibility where you don’t have to go on dedicated routes like light rail would.”

    An interesting goal but I think it would need a dramatic change in attitudes of operators of the driven fleet. Linked AVs would require the same right of way that trams require without the kinetic advantage that trams / light rail enjoys.

    AVs, single and linked, are envisioned as a part of Queenstown’s public transport system in the 5-10 year timeframe. The existing diesel fleet is temporary with plans for replacement at 5 and 10 years allowing for a 2 stage transition to electric and maybe autonomous.

  18. Anon 18
    13 May 2018 at 12:29 am

    Intersection meshing: if all cars were automated there’d be no traffic lights, cars could mesh through intersections with almost no slow down required. All traffic would run a lot smoother with a lot less traffic jams.

    Also if all cars were driverless then no cars would need to be owned by anyone – a nation wide car fleet would massively reduce car parking as cars would move from one job to another. Could even encourage car pooling by charging extra for solo trips.

    And without having to do the actual driving even long commutes can still be useful for something.

    Yeah, this would be way better than trains and the ultimate in public transport access for the infirm – but it wouldn’t pad jobs for unions so smelly mouldy inefficient late trains it is. Or in the case of ChCh no public transport at all by the time ECAN’s done gutting it.

    • Ad 18.1
      13 May 2018 at 6:38 am

      I would expect that as with any capital-intensive change such as buying a car, only the rich and the freight and large-fleet businesses will move to full automation.

      The rest of us will keep driving.

      Everybody talks about a new world in the morning, as Roger Whittaker said, but don’t they know tomorrow never comes?

      • greywarshark 18.1.1
        14 May 2018 at 3:00 pm

        What a great dream you guys are having. It’s Jetsons time folks. There is so little thought going into the wide social aspects of transport. But your transports of delight see things so rosily it is just a reprise of the fluffy stuff we got when computers were being introduced. It sounded then like a world where Disney birds tweeted sweet songs from every tree as erstwhile heavy-lifting employees were released from their doleful mundane jobs out into the sunshine strollin’ down the avenue.

        Now getting the dole is the job, in between demoralising repetitions of talks about how to give yourself heft over the other drop-outs for the next erratic job at ratshit wages.

      • greywarshark 18.1.2
        16 May 2018 at 10:52 am

        While people were thinking along your lines Ad, Roger Douglas and backing group came and sang another, different song, and he liked a fast pace that kept people confused.

        Tomorrow came in his time warp, and passed by us so quickly that we didn’t see it coming, and now don’t believe it ever existed, it’s being in the Now that’s the zeitgeist.

        Meanwhile we have jumped in the Tardis and it has taken us back to the 1940’s, and we are in our own science-fiction extravaganza.

  19. Me 19
    15 May 2018 at 12:43 pm

    Would you send your child off to a party in a driverless car? Yes.

    I believe the cars will be tested thoroughly and I know the car will not drink, take illicit substances or text and my child will have a better chance of getting home safely.

    I can’t wait till all cars, trucks and buses are driverless.

    • greywarshark 19.1
      16 May 2018 at 10:44 am

      You are as naive as a child Me. And need others in society to do the thinking about the effects and unintended consequences of this new system.

      And by the way, when parents send a child off in a plane on their own, the flight attendant will probably be asked to care for them so they have someone adult with them to give them a happy trip and hand them to someone at the end.

      You seem hostile about society. I am sorry that you have a rather paranoid attitude to it. Bad things do happen, but most people have reasonable to good levels of morality and competence so that a sort of gated separation from others is not justified by reality.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Government redress for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
    The Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Focus on outstanding minerals permit applications
    New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals is working to resolve almost 150 outstanding minerals permit applications by the end of the financial year, enabling valuable mining activity and signalling to the sector that New Zealand is open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.  “While there are no set timeframes for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Applications open for NZ-Ireland Research Call
    The New Zealand and Irish governments have today announced that applications for the 2024 New Zealand-Ireland Joint Research Call on Agriculture and Climate Change are now open. This is the third research call in the three-year Joint Research Initiative pilot launched in 2022 by the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ireland’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Tenancy rules changes to improve rental market
    The coalition Government has today announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to encourage landlords back to the rental property market, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “The previous Government waged a war on landlords. Many landlords told us this caused them to exit the rental market altogether. It caused worse ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Boosting NZ’s trade and agricultural relationship with China
    Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay will visit China next week, to strengthen relationships, support Kiwi exporters and promote New Zealand businesses on the world stage. “China is one of New Zealand’s most significant trade and economic relationships and remains an important destination for New Zealand’s products, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of our good and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Freshwater farm plan systems to be improved
    The coalition Government intends to improve freshwater farm plans so that they are more cost-effective and practical for farmers, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay have announced. “A fit-for-purpose freshwater farm plan system will enable farmers and growers to find the right solutions for their farm ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • New Fast Track Projects advisory group named
    The coalition Government has today announced the expert advisory group who will provide independent recommendations to Ministers on projects to be included in the Fast Track Approvals Bill, say RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones. “Our Fast Track Approval process will make it easier and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Pacific and Gaza focus of UN talks
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters says his official talks with the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York today focused on a shared commitment to partnering with the Pacific Islands region and a common concern about the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.    “Small states in the Pacific rely on collective ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Government honours Taranaki Maunga deal
    The Government is honouring commitments made to Taranaki iwi with the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its first reading Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the commitment the Crown made to the eight iwi of Taranaki to negotiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Enhanced partnership to reduce agricultural emissions
    The Government and four further companies are together committing an additional $18 million towards AgriZeroNZ to boost New Zealand’s efforts to reduce agricultural emissions. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says the strength of the New Zealand economy relies on us getting effective and affordable emission reduction solutions for New Zealand. “The ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • 110km/h limit proposed for Kāpiti Expressway
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) will begin consultation this month on raising speed limits for the Kāpiti Expressway to 110km/h. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and this proposal supports that outcome ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand Biosecurity Awards – Winners announced
    Two New Zealanders who’ve used their unique skills to help fight the exotic caulerpa seaweed are this year’s Biosecurity Awards Supreme Winners, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard. “Strong biosecurity is vital and underpins the whole New Zealand economy and our native flora and fauna. These awards celebrate all those in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Attendance action plan to lift student attendance rates
    The Government is taking action to address the truancy crisis and raise attendance by delivering the attendance action plan, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today.   New Zealand attendance rates are low by national and international standards. Regular attendance, defined as being in school over 90 per cent of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • World must act to halt Gaza catastrophe – Peters
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York today that an immediate ceasefire is needed in Gaza to halt the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.    “Palestinian civilians continue to bear the brunt of Israel’s military actions,” Mr Peters said in his speech to a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Speech to United Nations General Assembly: 66th plenary meeting, 78th session
    Mr President,   The situation in Gaza is an utter catastrophe.   New Zealand condemns Hamas for its heinous terrorist attacks on 7 October and since, including its barbaric violations of women and children. All of us here must demand that Hamas release all remaining hostages immediately.   At the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government woolshed roadshow kicks off
    Today the Government Agriculture Ministers started their national woolshed roadshow, kicking off in the Wairarapa. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay said it has been a tough time for farmers over the past few years. The sector has faced high domestic inflation rates, high interest rates, adverse weather events, and increasing farm ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • PM heads to Singapore, Thailand, and Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will travel to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines this week (April 14-20), along with a senior business delegation, signalling the Government’s commitment to deepen New Zealand’s international engagement, especially our relationships in South East Asia. “South East Asia is a region that is more crucial than ever to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Prime Minister launches Government Targets
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced further steps to get New Zealand back on track, launching nine ambitious Government Targets to help improve the lives of New Zealanders. “Our Government has a plan that is focused on three key promises we made to New Zealanders – to rebuild the economy, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Natural hydrogen resource should be free of Treaty claims entanglement
    Natural hydrogen could be a game-changing new source of energy for New Zealand but it is essential it is treated as a critical development that benefits all New Zealanders, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones is seeking to give regulatory certainty for those keen to develop natural, or geological, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government responds to unsustainable net migration
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand on stage at global Space Symposium
    Space Minister Judith Collins will speak at the Space Symposium in the United States next week, promoting New Zealand’s rapidly growing place in the sector as we work to rebuild the economy. “As one of the largest global space events, attended by more than 10,000 business and government representatives from ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-16T09:19:07+00:00