In a few ways.

1. Pods can be shared - for example for taking children to school (which seems to be the main factor in morning congestion. I did not have to walk past a 1/2 mile queue of traffic this morning because it's half term).
2. Better use of available road space:
   • Pods can "follow" each other more closely and communicate with each other. No more motorway traffic jams because someone randomly brakes for no reason whatsoever. Or because they have to brake because someone cuts them up.
   • Pods can be made smaller than current cars, more specifically they can be made narrower.
   • Narrow or wide pods would use specific lanes.
   • Cars would not be left parked in the street, meaning roads would be clear for traffic.
   • Excess pods could be parked outside of peak hours in existing car parks which would not be used in the same way as they are now
3. Reduction in crashes.

 

I agree with LG, the standard of driving will improve

the number of people i see not driving, instead dicking about with their clearly not suited to user smartphones is incredible. Drifting across lanes, missing lights etc

but i’m not sure it’ll solve congestion on its own. People drive because public transport is slow, dirty, expensive and uncomfortable

the reduction in traffic at half term is because you’ve removed a chunk of traffic, people are off work. I wonder what the percentage is because it cures the main issues

 

I understand the theory but I don't buy it

It will only work if pods are the only vehicles on the roads

The structural and social changes required are huge - of the type that will only be accomplished over generations if ever

It all sounds a bit Flash Gordon and Logan's Run to me

Vehicles | Logan's Run Wiki | FANDOM powered by Wikia

 

anyway my tipping point was about the tip from preferring old stuff to new stuff

not Jenny Agutter's gusset v Michael York's cod piece

I will post my updated musings idc

 

It's already happening to an extent in London with Uber (recent news notwithstanding). You call a "pod" which comes and picks you up and takes you to your destination.
There is a cheaper option of you don't mind sharing with others.
The main difference is that most Uber cars are driven really badly.
All the data Uber is collecting will be re-used when they figure out driverless options.

However, looking at the "self driving" technology that's already fitted to cars and some improvements can already be made - the obvious one being adaptive cruise control - put cars (and even better lorries) into "trains" of vehicles following closely, and you will see a big improvement in terms of motorway congestion.

But, you are right that it will take decades, certainly for non-urban/non-motorway environments.

Oh, and Jenny Agutter...drifting away...

 

We are all revealing our ages, now! Some stunning bush filmography...

Still; a far more interesting topic than driverless pods.

 

Macca only let down by slightly soft front end. Love the rear.

LaFerrari lottery win only but stunning piece of kit.

GT40 in Gulf livery. What's not to like? Had the good fortune to sit in and start - pretty moisture inducing - but multi-lottery win required.

NSX for Nick. I like them in red but my fantasy garage has all yellow cars.

Background being I went to the Saywell track day at Goodwood on Sunday.

Apart from the weather alternating between horizontal freezing rain/bright warm sunshine and a few wrong 'uns loitering it was quite an interesting day.

My main reason for attending was to start my shopping list. I've just extricated myself from one situation and got everything in place to take advantage of another. Next year will be a big year in terms of change - homes, businesses and lifestyle being key and for the first time in the last five years I will have some big bucks to spend.

Unfortunately the vast majority of stuff out yesterday was pretty uninspiring. I should say at this point that I am very visually wired up. The look of a car matters hugely to me and will normally be the thing that piques my interest (which may be common) but if I don't like the look of a car, even if people rave about the drive, I won't be interested at all (which is less common).

Cutting to the chase:

Early Caymans and 911s - no visual drama and all a bit boring - recent models have far more visual appeal. I really like the retro 911 targa and current Boxster/Cayman.

That new Civic - one of the most uncoordinated pieces of design I have ever seen. Truly gopping.
OTOH I like the new NSX a lot.

Astons - I only find a few limited models arresting but they sound great, esp V12 models. Why are they nearly all silver? Classic Astons stupidly expensive now.

Audis - the only thing I like is a V10 R8 manual but they aren't that jaw-dropping to look at. I've gone off fast estates.

Lambos - I find 'em a bit too 'chest wig Asian aspiration' motors tbh even though some of the classics are delectable.

Loti (Elise/Exige) - these are growing on me esp in daft colours. I vacillate between the Elise and Exige but there is something organically pure about the early cars. Also one of the few cars I'd be happy to accept with a transplanted engine/box. I like the back to basics part of these cars too.

Nissan GTRs - I want to like but they get too much attention for my liking. It's not the attention per se but the demographic that provides the attention. I prefer the looks of the earlier Skylines.

Current M3/M5 look too much like other 3 and 5 series models to me - at least in certain colours - and don't inspire the lust I had for early incarnations.

Jag F-types - there's nothing I dislike about these and I'd be happier with the golf club demographic over MacD's (although I find golfers the most boring people on the planet and I do enjoy a tasty burger).

Masers - visually stunning but I know they have the everyday practicality of a bus. I've escaped from a couple with wallet intact and don't intend to push my luck.

Imprevos - no longer good enough to compensate for the marmite looks and same problem as the GTR in terms of attention.

Mclaren - this is a brand I like who have gradually got my attention as years have passed and their output has increased. Every model they've made has appealed to me and there were some nice cars on show yesterday.

Ferrari - pains me to say I think the high water mark was the 458. The front engined cars do nothing for me at all. I like some limited models of the 328/348 and note some softening of 246 prices.

Mercs - with the exception of the SLS and GTS - ugly as sin.

All the Golf R type stuff, fast Foci et al. Not for me. I'm not intending to own anything that's a compromise and my other half will always have a hatchback I can borrow if I can't get something delivered.

The Pagani due at the circuit crashed en route. Shame as they top my visually appealing list with the exception of the LaFerrari.

Miscellaneous - Ultimas have always appealed but I no longer consider building one to be a good proposition. I'm not sufficiently detail conscious and it would never be finished.

Classics - unwilling to pay the money asked for most but I would happily buy a De Tomsso Pantera just to park in the drive and rumble to a show and back a few times a year. I've owned a lot of the currently lauded stuff and my memory is good.

Also I wouldn't re-marry my ex-wife and am similarly uninterested in buying a car I've previously owned. It was track-focused yesterday so not much in the way of classic grand tourers but I think I could be seduced by an Interceptor or a 3.8 Mk10 Jag.

In summary, something(s) modern this way comes. Gad's point has tipped but one classic will have to be in the garage as well.

 

It made the news: 'One-off' £1.5m supercar damaged in crash at Tangmere - BBC News

 

Long way from a write-off though.

It was wet/damp that morning but that stretch is straight. Pure speculation on my part but there's a very short slip road from the garage behind where the car came to rest. Easy to image a fishtail leaving the garage (which is also only 400yds from the back road Goodwood exit) or picking up any slop from another vehicle.

Another car was off the road on its roof in the opposite direction close to Fontwell later in the day.

 

Cheers, Gad. NSXs look rather good in yellow, too.

I'm yet-to-be-convinced by the NC1 model; I appreciate that it squares the Golf Quattro/Supercar issue incredibly well. Thing is, it's as if one also needs a McLaren for the pure-sportscar thing as well in order to balance it. But of the too large/too fast 'super' cars, they are about the only two that interest me these days.

I find Lotus appeals more, pretty much for the reasons you state. And there's a new special edition every time they build a car. apparently, so there ought to be a version to suit. Being an eternal diplomat, both an Elise and an Evora would fix the raw vs usable quandary. Except when the Evora Roadster arrives, it will complicate matters only further.

My biggest issue therefore would be what to replace the Leg End with. Daft as it may sound, nobody actually sells a car like that in the UK any more, probably as a corollary of having to package an inline FWD transmission unit in a RHD car and the preference for compression-ignition engines in 'luxury' cars. It's really too damned good a drive to be considered an old smoker, especially on slippery roads.