Taxi !!!

[Scrumpy]

Today driverless taxi's are being introduced in London..
Would you get in one.?

Would I ?  No..

[klondike]

Be OK in London. Max speed is probably much less than on a bike. Sometimes les than walking pace.

[Mups]

No.  I wouldn't want a driverless taxi,  train, plane,  or anything else driverless.

Another thing is,  I always wonder if a driverless car hit mine,  how would you claim on their insurance?    You could hardly ask  for anyone's insurance details!

[Scrumpy]

.... and then they chuck a left by mistake .. heading towards a duel carriageway..
then the M25 !!!!!!!

[GrannyMac]

Can't be much worse than some of the drivers! 

[klondike]

I expect they are AI trained from studying real taxi drivers so they'll just put on hazards and stop in the middle of the road or park on pavements, pick shortest lane at roundabouts regardless of exit, etc. 

[Mups]

I expect they are AI trained from studying real taxi drivers so they'll just put on hazards and stop in the middle of the road or park on pavements, pick shortest lane at roundabouts regardless of exit, etc.

But what would happen in an accident, Klondie?
How would you know their insurers?

[klondike]

Let your own insurers sort it. Just record and report the vehicle number. Passengers know who they hired it from and can sue them for compensation if necessary.

[Mups]

Let your own insurers sort it. Just record and report the vehicle number. Passengers know who they hired it from and can sue them for compensation if necessary.

That'd be no help if it was empty.

I just googled it,  and it says we would have to get the licence number from the back plate.  Not just the number plate,  but apparently there is a licence number on the taxi plate too.

A couple of years ago here,   late one night,  someone knocked the lampost down outside my house.
A neighbour said it was a white taxi,  and he saw the driver stop a few yards up the road,  run back,  pick up his taxi plate that had come off,  then run back to his car and drive off again.

I never heard any more about it,  so I have no idea if they caught him or not.   
Bet his taxi firm weren't pleased with him because it mustn't half have bashed his vehicle..

[klondike]

At least automated taxis won't be picking up bits that fall off and scooting 

[Mups]

At least automated taxis won't be picking up bits that fall off and scooting 

True.   

In fact,  I am wondering whether they would even stop?
What if they run someone over,   would they stop?
And that person who may be laying in the road  wouldn't be able to walk round the taxi to look at his back plate, would they.

Apart from these legalities,  why does some bright spark even want to bring these driverless things in?
It is only going to put more people out of work after all.
Same as all these stupid 'Serve yourself' checkouts at supermarkets did.

Talking of those check outs,  the other day when I was using one for a few bits,  the damn stupid thing stopped and a message came up saying something about someone had to come to check I was over 16. 
I hadn't got a load of booze,  or anything dodgy,  so couldn't understand it.
When the girl came,  you'll never guess what it was that held everything up . . . .
A packet of bloody Paracetamol !!!