A big psychological step forward for robocars

GM has announced self-driving cars with no steering wheels or pedals. Laws aside, this is significant move from a psychological safety perspective.

Steering wheels and pedals in cars have always signalled control to users. Even when they are not actively used in current self-driving cars, their presences says: I can take control any time I want to.

Removing steering wheels and pedals is a courageous act. And an inevitable one. For GM to do it so soon is (probably) a clear sign of the maturity of the technology.

(Screengrab of, and more information at https://www.wired.com/story/gm-cruise-self-driving-car-launch-2019/?mbid=nl_011218_daily_list1_p4)

Cite
	Title:	A big psychological step forward for robocars
	Author:	Liew, Zern
	Blog Title:	Thoughts at the intersection of Design, Business, Technology, and Applied Psychology
	Date:	16 January 2018
	URL:	https://eicolab.com.au/2018/a-big-psychological-step-forward-for-robocars.html