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DRIVE

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2015

HOW CAN PEOPLE SAFELY TAKE CONTROL FROM A

SELF-DRIVING CAR?

BY JUSTIN PRITCHARD
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOS ANGELES New

cars that can steer and brake
themselves risk lulling people
in the drivers seat into a false
sense of security and even
to sleep. One way to keep
people alert may be providing
distractions that are now illegal.
That was one surprising
finding when researchers put
Stanford University students in
a simulated self-driving car to
study how they reacted when
their robo-chauffer needed help.
The experiment was one in a
growing number that assesses
how cars can safely hand
control back to a person when
their self-driving software and
sensors are overwhelmed or
overmatched. With some models
already able to stay in their lane
or keep a safe distance from
other traffic, and automakers
pushing for more automation,
the car-to-driver handoff is a big
open question.
The elimination of distracted
driving is a major selling point
for the technology. But in the
Stanford experiment, reading or
watching a movie helped keep

participants awake.
Among the 48 students put in
the drivers seat, 13 who were
instructed to monitor the car
and road began to nod off. Only
three did so when told to watch
a video or read from a tablet.
Alertness mattered when
students needed to grab the
wheel because a simulated car
or pedestrian got in the way.
Theres no consensus on the
right car-to-driver handoff
approach: the Stanford research
suggests engaging people with
media could help, while some
automakers are marketing
vehicles with limited selfdriving features that will slow
the car if they detect a person
has stopped paying attention to
the road.
Though research is ongoing,
it appears that people need at
least 5 seconds to take over if
theyre not totally checked out.
Self-driving car experts at
Google, which is pursuing the
technology more aggressively
than any automaker, concluded
that involving humans would
make its cars less safe. Googles
solution is a prototype with
no steering wheel or pedals
human control would be limited
to go and stop buttons.

Meanwhile, traditional
automakers are phasing in
the technology. Mercedes and
Toyota sell cars that can hit the
brakes and stay in their lane. By
adding new features each year,
they might produce a truly selfdriving car in about a decade.
One potential hazard of this
gradualist approach became
clear this fall, when Tesla
Motors had to explain that its
auto pilot feature did not
mean drivers could stop paying
attention. Several videos posted
online showed people recording
the novelty then seizing the
wheel when the car made a
startling move.
Starting late next year, the
Cadillac CTS will get a Super
Cruise system, which will allow
semi-autonomous highway
driving. If the drivers eyes
are off the road, and they dont
respond to repeated prodding,
the car slows.
We are in no way selling
this as a technology where the
driver can check out, General
Motors spokesman Dan Flores
said. You can relax, glance
away, but you still have to be
aware because you know the
technologys not foolproof.
One riddle automakers must

solve: How to get owners to

trust the technology so theyll
use it but not trust it so much
that theyll be lulled into a false
sense of security and therefore
slower to react when the car
needs them.
Trust was on the mind of
researchers who in August
published an extensive report on
self-driving cars funded by the
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration. Although this
trust is essential for widespread
adoption, participants were
also observed prioritizing
non-driving activities over the
operation of the vehicle, the
authors wrote.
Another wide-open question:
How to alert the person in the
drivers seat of the need to take
over.
It appears that the car should
appeal to several senses. Visual
warnings alone may not suffice.
But combine a light with
spoken instructions or physical
stimulation such as a vibrating
seat, and people react more
quickly.
If it is done courteously
and subtle and not annoying,
it could be missed by someone
that is distracted, said Greg
Fitch, a research scientist at the

Virginia Tech Transportation

Institute. Then again, the way
the car interacts with people
will be one way automakers
differentiate their product
and overbearing warnings may
sour potential buyers.
Other issues Fitch cites
include mode confusion
(making sure the car clearly
informs the person whether or
not it is driving itself) and clear
explanations to drivers of what
the car can and cannot
handle.
Cars with the right sensors
are becoming really good at
monitoring the outside world
and have quicker response
times than humans. People
are much better at making
decisions during uncertain
circumstances.
One lesson from the Stanford
study may be that master and
machine are better viewed as
collaborators.
Theres really a relationship
between drivers and cars, said
David Sirkin, who helped run
the experiment at Stanfords
Center for Design Research,
and that relationship is
becoming more a peer
relationship.

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YEAR-END BUSINESS UPDATE

Special Section / Autos

YOUR LOCAL
AUTOMOTIVEREPORT
SHOPPING GUIDE

Corleys Year-End Sales Event!!!

6 Giant Days Of Savings!!!

time for a new vehicle

winterize your vehicle
best bang for your buck
auto emergency kits

pg.4
pg.13
pg.16
pg.18

DECEMBER
26 Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday!!!
Saturday,
By Jerry Shroff

With year-end tax ramifications and loomingvehicle write-downs, Corleys Albuquerque

Lincoln Volvo is taking huge year-end pricing
actions with a sell-down of new and used
vehicle inventory. Eddie Corley Jr., President of
Corleys explained, In order to lesson year-end
tax burdens and avoid significant year-end
write-downs I have mandated a huge sell-down
of vehicle inventories prior to the end of the
year.

This also helps in other ways, Corley continued. By moving out all of these used vehicles
it will assist us by freeing up funds to insure
top dollar for all trade-ins. All trades will be
accepted, paid for or not, even if they are
not running, regardless of condition.
This Year-end Sales Event is happening at
Corleys Albuquerque Lincoln Volvo now
through December 31st. All vehicles, new
and used, are being marked at substantial
savings. Absolutely no vehicle will be
excluded from this special savings event.

To accomplish this, Corley further explained,

we are having a giant Year-End Sales Event
now through December 31st . We are trying to
make it as easy as possible to make that deal
you have been waiting for by clearly marking
down all existing inventory with close-out
pricing and payments.

In addition, special trade-in sources have

been retained insuring top dollar for your
trade-in. All trade-ins will be accepted
regardless of condition or pay-off. 100% of
pay-off will be made on all trade-ins no
matter how much is owedthere will be no
exceptions no exclusions.

We have special pricing on all vehicles, Corley

continued. Bonus Cash on new vehicles will
be as high as $5,000* plus our Corley discounts.
0% for up to 60 months will be available as
well.*

Plus the best and largest banks in the

country will be participating in this special
Year-End Sales Event. Zero down will be in
effect and no payments until May on many
of the vehicles will be available.

Corley added, Volvo has also put in place a

special year-end program where they will
make the first 3 payments for you when you
purchase almost any new 2016 Volvo*. That
means you will not have to make a payment
until May of 2016!

You do not want to miss this Year-End Sales

Event now through Thursday, December
31st at Corleys Albuquerque Lincoln Volvo
just north of Alameda on I-25.We will even
be open Sunday for your year-end shopping.
Call 505-260-2200 for special directions or to
answer any questions. Dont miss itthis
simply may be the best time to buy.

In addition, Corley stated, we are pricing our

used vehicles at considerable savings, many
thousands of dollars under book value, to
insure a proper disposal of used vehicles. We
have virtually every make and model of
pre-owned vehicle including Hondas, Toyotas,
Fords, Chevrolets, Dodges and more. Of
course we also have luxury vehicles for less
including Volvos, Lincolns, Mercedes, Lexuss,
BMWs and others and they all must go and
will be priced accordingly.

*All offers on approved credit. Offers not in conjunction.

Offers plus tax, title, license and processing fees. 0% for
60 months on select new Lincolns, vary by model and
term, on approved credit. Financing through Volvo
Finance, finance terms 60 or 72 months, On approved
credit,
$5,000 Cash allowance on 2016 S80s with
application of $4,000 Purchase Allowance and $1,000
loyalty allownance, On approved credit, through Volvo
Finance, new 2016 Volvos, see dealer for details.
Downpayment varies depending on model selected and
term. On approved credit . Vehicles subject to prior sale,
See dealer for details.
GCS 2015