Volvo has revealed that its first self-driving cars will go on sale in 2014.
The new models will be fitted with Volvo's new traffic jam assistance system, which allows the car to automatically follow the vehicle in front at speeds of up to 31mph.
Activated by pressing a button on the dashboard, the system is designed to help reduce the number of low-speed collisions caused by drivers not concentrating on the road ahead. However, unlike adaptive cruise control which has been fitted to cars for years, Volvo's system takes control of the steering, as well as the engine and the brakes.
Volvo points out that the new models will not be truly autonomous cars as the driver will be able to take control of the vehicle and override the system at any moment.
It's impossible to say whether autonomous cars will ever be a viable alternative to -- or replacement for -- traditional cars; however, with self-drive vehicles now legal in the US state of Nevada, it's clear that the support for autonomous motors is growing.
However, the increasing viability of autonomous vehicles raises an important question: do we actually want cars which drive themselves? A survey conducted in May found that 58% of drivers would be unwilling to let their car do the driving for them, and keen petrolheads are unlikely to be receptive to the idea of hanging up their driving gloves for good.
We tend to agree that self-drive cars will take the fun out of motoring; however, we have to admit that the idea of sitting in a traffic jam with the car doing all the work is appealing.
What's your view? Would you welcome autonomous vehicles, or would you miss the simple pleasures of driving?
Leave your comments below.
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