Newslink December

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semi-autonomous cars can and can’t do.
Also, that there is another problem to
consider – how to re-educate 40 million
current drivers into the mysteries of
autonomous driving.
Yes, of course, drivers should be
educated about how to use the
technology available at their finger tips,
but to suggest that ADIs should be the
ones to do it poses significant problems.
Obviously ADIs should do it – after all,
they are the experts in relation to driver
training and related matters. But ...
First, will there be the demand?
Unlikely. For at least the next 10 years
new drivers, in the main, will be driving
vehicles that do not have any of the
advanced technology that is proposed.
Also very few experienced drivers would
lower themselves to seek advice about
how to use the technology available in
their new car. Ask yourself, how many
people have computer lessons?
Second, will the DVSA accept semiautonomous
cars for driving tests?
Probably not until years after it becomes
common place. Look back to the
problems of using cars with hill start
assist and the eventual introduction of
sat navs on test.
Third, for such cars we are looking at
prices north of £25,000. How many
ADIs would purchase/lease a car at that
price when it is only worth about £8,000
after three years and 120,000 miles?
Bearing in mind that the technology
would be nearly out of date by that time,
with the replacement vehicle being even
more expensive.
Fourth, will all vehicles have basically
the same systems? We know that car
manufacturers like to exhibit a degree of
individuality with their products, so it is
likely that although their different
systems provide the same functions, how
they go about it could vary considerably.
As with all conundrums there is an
answer. It is necessary to go a back a bit
in time because what goes round, comes
round. 45 years ago in the town where I
lived there was a franchised car
dealership selling various makes and
models to their customers. That was in
the days when customer service
mattered; not only was it important to
establish a good name for the business,
it was also financially beneficial to the
company.
One of the services they provided was
driving lessons for their customers. Not
all people have the confidence to jump in
their new car and drive away into the
sunset. A considerable number would
very much like some coaching because
their new car is so very different to the
last one they bought ten years ago. And
that situation is only going to get more
likely with the advances in driver
assisting electronics.
Car dealers do have a duty of care
towards their customers and should
explain the function of the various
controls, switches and the ubiquitous
touchscreen display which is installed in
almost every new car. In my experience
they rarely do this, apparently assuming
that because you drove into their
premises, you can drive out again in a
new car. Sales personnel appear not to
have the time to perform this function; it
is therefore a job for someone else.
Perhaps that ‘someone else’ can be a
local ADI with the time and ability to
familiarise themselves with the various
idiosyncrasies of the models the dealer
sells?
There should be a demand for this
service but sadly, there isn’t.
As for re-educating 40 million drivers,
that is not going to happen. The facilities
are not there, the demand is not there
and the number of ADIs required is not
there. As usual, people will muddle
through the best they can, and as with
their computer they will not use most of
the functions. At some point cars will
become fully autonomous and a driver
no longer required.
Problem solved, but at what cost?
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