# Self driving cars are still decades away **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 10, 2017, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499 "2017-10-10T17:38:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 148
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499/2948 "2025-12-18T00:36:37Z")
I didn’t mean that as a pimp at you so much as expressing a pet peeve about crappy popular terminology. Sorry if that sounded poorly to you. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499/2949 "2025-12-18T00:37:32Z")
From one pedant to another, I appreciated it ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499/2950 "2025-12-18T00:53:19Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > the GPS part of that is certainly working correctly and well enough. One of my friends with a Tesla had tons of trouble with the gps. It often put her 20 feet to the east of where she actually was. (Or something along those lines) Which led to a lot of bad consequences. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499/2951 "2025-12-18T00:58:18Z")
I haven’t used Tesla FSD since it was last free many months ago. It is free again and I gave it another shot. I used to get frustrated at it…a lot. I figured my issues were because I live in a very non-metro area (fairly rural) and it didn’t have enough data so it would do things like continue going 60MPH when the 2-lane highway enters a town, being far too hesitant at odd intersections, etc. On our trip to go hiking over the weekend it did SO MUCH BETTER! I didn’t have any interventions because of it doing stupid shit over about 3 hours of driving. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499/2952 "2025-12-18T21:15:53Z")
Rivian announces hands-free driving! Some minor caveats are described: > Owners will still have to supervise the driving system and, crucially, it “will not stop or slow down for traffic lights or stop signs.” Universal Hands-Free will also not make turns or follow navigation. > **[Rivian rolls out new 'Universal Hands-Free' driving feature | TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/18/rivian-rolls-out-new-universal-hands-free-driving-feature/)** > > The driver assistance software is available on Rivian's for Gen 2 R1 cars and works on 3.5 million miles of North American roads. But it doesn't slow or stop for traffic lights or stop signs. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499/2953 "2025-12-18T21:40:24Z")
So… The same lane following on highways that lots of cars have now? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499/2954 "2025-12-18T22:17:26Z")
That’s my reaction. My 2022 does that already. And does an adequate job of it. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499/2955 "2025-12-18T22:35:52Z")
But it’s hands-free! Yeah. Very strange announcement. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2025, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499/2956 "2025-12-19T00:08:56Z")
If they mean there’s no need to diddle the steering wheel to “prove” you’re paying attention that _might_ be a difference worth touting. But I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2025, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499/2957 "2025-12-19T00:25:52Z")
Tesla has been completely hands free for over a year. It will only nag you if the inside camera detects that you aren’t paying attention. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2025, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499/2958 "2025-12-19T00:40:55Z")
Yep, that was my experience. No “diddling” of the steering wheel required. 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2025, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499/2959 "2025-12-19T18:46:25Z")
Sorry; I didn’t write everything I was thinking. For sure Tesla hasn’t needed steering wheel diddling for awhile. Hooray for that. AFAIK / IME everybody else still does. And if Rivian is introducing just plain ordinary lane-keeping and car-ahead following like e.g. KIA has had for years, that’s hardly evidence of cutting edge tech that they should be touting as anything special. A _possible_ exception to the “Ho hum, so ordinary” reaction is _if_ they’ve eliminated the wheel diddling as an attention check. Absent that I can’t see they’ve done anything except bring their car up to about 2020 ordinary car optional equipment. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2025, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499/2960 "2025-12-19T19:04:46Z")
GM’s Supercruise needs eyes forward but no steering wheel diddling. Works quite well on the (few) mapped roads in MT. Changes lanes to pass automatically. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2025, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499/2961 "2025-12-19T19:30:13Z")
That is definitely a step up from what I knew about. And if Rivian has those features, including widespread detailed mapping and map-aware tactical navigation, that’s a big step up from mere lane-keeping and car-following. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2025, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499/2962 "2025-12-25T16:50:53Z")
[Waymo pays workers $22 to close doors on stranded robotaxis - The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/12/25/waymo-robots-human-work/) > Because riders and passersby can be unreliable, Waymo pays workers in Los Angeles $20 or more for rescuing a robotaxi by closing a door, summoning help through an app called Honk that is like an Uber for towing companies. The road robots have servants already! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2025, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499/2963 "2025-12-25T17:55:03Z")
Heck, if I lived where Waymos operated and I saw one with an open door, I’d sure close it for $20. And I’d be faster response than any app. Just wave my phone at the car so it knows who to pay. The future will be a weird place. It already is. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499/2964 "2026-01-13T16:26:49Z")
Motor Trend, previously a harsh critic of Tesla FSD, is so impressed with v14 that they’ve named it best ADAS of the year. Last year’s award went to GM > **[Best Tech 2026: Believe It, Tesla FSD (Supervised) Is the Best Driver...](https://www.motortrend.com/features/tesla-fsd-driver-assistance-system-best-tech-2026)** > > Despite experiencing some well-documented flaws with it over the years, we think you’ll be amazed by the latest iteration of Tesla’s FSD. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499/2965 "2026-01-13T19:12:50Z")
If wishes were horses… [https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/13/business/tesla-robotaxi-musk-2026](https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/13/business/tesla-robotaxi-musk-2026) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499/2966 "2026-01-13T19:27:02Z")
**Moderating:** We request that blind links not be made. Please give a brief description at very least why this might relate to the thread topic. I’m not sure why the preview is not working for CNN, but please check such. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2026, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499/2967 "2026-01-13T19:37:35Z")
Righto. Musk still seems to be overpromising and underdelivering when it comes to Tesla robotaxis. [https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/13/business/tesla-robotaxi-musk-2026](https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/13/business/tesla-robotaxi-musk-2026) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499.md?page=147) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-driving-cars-are-still-decades-away/798499.md?page=149)