Vol.4 DRIVERLESS CARS
We hear much these days about advances in robotics. Within a few decades, we are told, at least half of the jobs people do today will have been eliminated by automation. But one type of technology which promises to do away with human labor is already with us: autonomous vehicles. Nissan is already testing driverless cars in London, while Tokyo aims to have them on its streets by 2020. The cars are equipped with cameras, radar and laser sensors which enable them to negotiate city traffic and change lanes both safely and efficiently.
To some people, driverless electric vehicles represent the future of transportation. All we will have to do is press a button, and the car will take us to our destination. We will not have to suffer the stress of driving, we will be able to relax on our way to work, and there will be far fewer traffic accidents. In rural areas of Japan, driverless buses and “robot taxis” are already being tested. These will surely be of great benefit to elderly people, and could enable many unprofitable bus companies to survive, since they will cost much less to run.
Software companies and car manufacturers are now racing to develop driverless technology as fast as they can. After all, the industry will be worth one trillion dollars by 2025. But should we not consider the long-term effects of these changes? In the UK, not only could 750,000 drivers lose their jobs, but driverless cars may do nothing to prevent congestion. Perhaps we should reconsider the merits of old-fashioned public transportation systems like electric trams, which are both environmentally friendly and take up much less space.
QUESTIONS
1. How many of our jobs might robots be doing by 2050?
2. What kind of technology stops driverless cars from having accidents?
3. Why are driverless buses good for bus companies?
4. What are two adverse effects that driverless cars might have?
5. Does the writer think driverless vehicles are more suited to cities, or the countryside?
COMPOSITION TOPICS
1.
Many cities suffer from severe environmental problems due to transportation: for example, congestion, noise, air pollution, and the destruction of communities by big roads. In your opinion, what kind of transportation do we need in order to make cities peaceful, quiet, clean, and pleasant to live in?
2.
Do you prefer traveling by car, or by train? What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of each?
