<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/08/googles-self-driving-cars-300-000-miles-logged-not-a-single-accident-under-computer-control/260926/">http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/08/googles-self-driving-cars-300-000-miles-logged-not-a-single-accident-under-computer-control/260926/</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p>Ever since Google began designing its self-driving cars, they've wanted to build cars that go beyond the capabilities of human-piloted vehicles, cars that are much, much safer. When Sebastian Thrun announced the project in 2010, <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/what-were-driving-at.html">he wrote</a>, "According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.2 million lives are lost every year in road traffic accidents. We believe our technology has the potential to cut that number, perhaps by as much as half."<o:p></o:p></p><p>New data indicate that Google's on the right path. Earlier this week the <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/the-self-driving-car-logs-more-miles-on.html">company announced</a> that the self-driving cars have now logged some 300,000 miles and "there hasn't been a single accident under computer control." (<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/science/10google.html"><em><span style='color:blue'>The New York Times</span></em> did note in a 2010 article</a> that a self-driving car was rear-ended while stopped at a traffic light, so Google must not be counting the incidents that were the fault of flawed humans…<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Woohoo! Way to go, Thrun! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Work quickly lads, please. I have six parents who need this technology riiiight nooooow. Between all six, they own 11 cars, and will gladly give you all of them for three self-drivers, one for each couple.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I thought of an interesting idea. I have a relative who really wants to go touring the northwest, but she isn’t a good enough driver and has no companion. She was married to the same man for 58 years before he passed away about 8 yrs ago. Now she wants to go touring one last time, but does not want to remarry and considers it improper to shack up, even at age nearly 90. She is in terrific shape for her age and has pleeeeenty of money, plenty. She doesn’t want to hire a driver, but wants to go road touring for a few weeks, one last time, just once. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>With this tech, we could perhaps rig up a nifty little one-up camper motorhome. It wouldn’t need to be much for a single person, especially a small one, like my great aunt. I bet a Ford Econoline van would be plenty for that application.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Stanford lad, work quickly please, hurry.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>spike<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>