Comments

One response to “Autonomous Cars — a Cheap Economic Boost?”

1. 

   LarrytheG

   March 15, 2017

   VDOT has figured out that if you provide more capacity as a response to congestion – then what happens is more people drive and that capacity quickly gets filled up again.

   What they also found out is that if you institute tolls that dynamically adjust to demand that they can maintain a relatively congestion free trip… though the tolls might be steep -unless you are in an HOV-3 vehicle.

   I don’t see how autonomous cars change any of this to be honest.

   I think VDOT has it right. No amount of excess capacity will lead to congestion-free trips in the urban areas that are thick with SOV commuters… all it will do is attract more and more SOV cars that will consume whatever excess capacity is added.. it’s a losing game.

   the future of roads is going to be …user-pays… the user – at that time -will pay. The choices will be travel in the “free” lanes with the other schlubs.. all dying of congestion.. or travel in the “pay” lanes.. by either paying or by being in an HOV.

   you pays your money and youse makes your choice. the use or non-use of an autonomous vehicle will matter little except that I think if you mix autonomous vehicles with human-driven vehicles all holy hell will ensue including a much higher accident rate as the autonomous vehicles will never understand just how dumb and irresponsible human drivers can be.

   Log in to Reply