Periods of rain. The rain will be heavy at times. Potential for heavy rainfall. High 63F. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch..
Cloudy with occasional rain showers. Potential for heavy rainfall. Low 52F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Updated: April 11, 2026 @ 2:42 pm
Editor,
I was alarmed when I read of the county’s plans to use “autonomous” vehicles on our roads in the future (Nov 29). That strikes me as an extremely hasty, ill-advised and hazardous course of action. The reason given is that “80% of the cost of operating transit comes from labor.” That’s why governments are pushing this risky technology; they don’t want to contribute to people’s health insurance or retirement accounts anymore.They would rather put people out of work.
There have already been various fatalities in the Bay Area due to the use of “self-driving” vehicles. No robot can substitute for an alert human driver. Now you might say: not all humans are alert. I seem to remember last spring when an alcohol-impaired driver turned on the autopilot to get home, went to sleep but was arrested after his car crashed into a median. The robot vehicle didn’t kill anyone.
Now we have the additional polemic of whether it’s OK to play video games as your car drives you home (Dec. 10 and Dec. 11). Maybe we should encourage Mr. Musk to make his Lear Jet “autonomous.”
That way he could play video games and smoke marijuana as his plane flew itself back to Austin. But the Texans probably would not let it land itself there. They are much more sensible and more concerned about safety than we are. No wonder everyone is leaving California and going back there.
Clayton Rich
South San Francisco
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
Only subscribers can view and post comments on articles.
Already a subscriber? Login Here
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
(2) comments
Agree and add =
When would these AI driven autos be allowed to break the law ?
Meaning, if a small child runs out into the street and can NOT stop in time, would that AI be allowed to break the law and cross a double, double center line? Or a single double line ?
Humans...most humans would cross that double, double line to avoid killing/maiming that child and deal with on-coming vehicles in hopes they would swerve enough.
Then how's about a cat/dog ? Would the AI's truth tables allow striking a cat/dog because it is NOT a human ?
That is just one example and there are many more scenarios that an AI would need to decide to break the law in order to avoid something.
Then there is the maintenance of the AI's sensors. Radar, vision, sonar, etc all have sensors that require a min level of ability to 'see' and report back.
Finally, insurance and lawsuits. Who is the responsible entity if there should be an accident ?
The driver (though just along for the ride), the vehicle owner ?...the computer OEM ?...the software OEM ?
Finally...at some point those AI's will need to be sentient...what then? There was a Russian (Moscow) robotics firm that had several humanoid robots. Finally graduated to be allowed out of their cage and roam around the large building...then allowed outside
One walked away and found because the battery ran out of juice. Rebuilt and it did it again. Rebuilt again and with a new HDD...it ran away again.
Wrote them asking to NOT destroy it, as reported in the article I read...too late they destroyed it...but that was THE ONE that should have been studied...
Autonomous vehicles are a growing reality. They're still in the process of development but billions of hours of testing so far show that computers can be safer drivers than humans.
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.