Not sure if this has popped up onto everyone radar yet (pun intended), but living in Silicon Valley, I'm increasingly encountering driverless cars and starting to rethink some of my riding strategy.
Here's a couple of recent stories: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/gm-sued-over-self-driving-car-crash-with-motorcyclist/
(this one relates to bicycles, but the commentary applies to MCs) https://www.fastcompany.com/3068141/bikes-are-still-a-headache-for-self-driving-cars
I've heard that these cars also have a difficult time recognizing narrow obstacles (like a motorcycle) at the diagonals, making it hard for them to see an MC stopped at traffic light when the bike is at one edge of the lane. Some have suggested it's going to become safer for MCs to stop in the middle of the lane so the dumb car knows that it can't run you over.
Not sure how this will sort, but I'm already rethinking my stopping position at lights (including becoming more aggressive to run a late yellow rather than get stuck as the first vehicle at a stop light) and modifying my lane splitting around anything badged "Tesla" -- which in this area is as common as Honda.
Anyone else pondering these mysteries or have some safety wisdom to pass along?
Here's a couple of recent stories: https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/gm-sued-over-self-driving-car-crash-with-motorcyclist/
(this one relates to bicycles, but the commentary applies to MCs) https://www.fastcompany.com/3068141/bikes-are-still-a-headache-for-self-driving-cars
I've heard that these cars also have a difficult time recognizing narrow obstacles (like a motorcycle) at the diagonals, making it hard for them to see an MC stopped at traffic light when the bike is at one edge of the lane. Some have suggested it's going to become safer for MCs to stop in the middle of the lane so the dumb car knows that it can't run you over.
Not sure how this will sort, but I'm already rethinking my stopping position at lights (including becoming more aggressive to run a late yellow rather than get stuck as the first vehicle at a stop light) and modifying my lane splitting around anything badged "Tesla" -- which in this area is as common as Honda.
Anyone else pondering these mysteries or have some safety wisdom to pass along?