As the car saved the horse, will self-driving cars save the driver?

Much in the same way that the invention of the automobile saved the horse from a life of heavy labour and set them free to be enjoyed (in the main) as a leisure pursuit, so might the autonomous vehicle save the keen driver

Back in April, the UK government approved Ford to launch its new self-driving car program, which is now available via monthly subscription on the Mustang Mach-E. With this new system, when the car senses that it is on a motorway, the driver will be able to remove their hands from the wheel and relax, as the vehicle will steer, brake and accelerate for itself, as long as the driver remains alert, and keep their eyes on the road.

Hailed as the next step on the road to fully autonomous, or truly driverless cars, the new Ford system was greeted with applause and distrust in equal measure by drivers, some of whom are excited by the promise of hassle-free motoring, and others who are not so sure.

Up until now, some vehicles have allowed drivers to hand over some control to a vehicle, as long as a hand remained on the steering wheel to take control should anything go wrong. While some of the earliest systems to hit the market, such as that found in the Volvo XC90, were reasonable in their efforts to self-drive, they were not flawless. The Volvo system had an off-putting habit of hugging the extreme left of any lane it was in, which made for some closer-than-comfortable moments on a motorway if passing a slower moving car which happened to be to the right of centre in its own lane.

Although I’ve not driven the latest Ford system myself, feedback from those that have suggested that the car is pretty good at ferrying passengers along a British motorway in a smooth and predictable manner. On the assumption that such technology will only continue to evolve for the better over time, this heralds a bright future for those who are in favour of being driven by their own cars.

Some of the most vocal opponents of self-driving vehicles have been motoring aficionados, who see the rise of the autonomous car as sounding the death-knell for the joys of driving. Soon, they cry, the freedom of the open road and the bliss of man (or woman)-and-machine working together in harmony will be replaced by a slow-moving procession of identical EVs, as mankind shuffles towards a more tightly controlled future.

As a self-confessed petrolhead and keen driver myself, I used to share this same point of view. However, then I began to drive to work. I suddenly found myself with two modes of driving, a wind-in-my-hair enjoyment of freedom, and a daily grind of needing to get from A to B. The former remains enjoyable, while the latter is something I’d happily do without.

The idea of being able to able to combine the door-to-door convenience of car, while being able to focus on anything other than the drive sounds great, and with the added bonus of a fleet of autonomous vehicles being more likely to ensure a smooth flow of traffic than a lot of harried commuters, it sounds more efficient, too.

This would leave evenings and weekend free to get behind the wheel of a driver’s car for the enjoyment of the act itself, free from the time pressures and stresses of commuting. Much in the same way that the invention of the automobile saved the horse from a life of heavy labour and set them free to be enjoyed (in the main) as a leisure pursuit, so might the autonomous vehicle save the keen driver. Only time will tell, but I remain hopeful.

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