Semi-autonomous tech could lead to more in-car sex, expert worries
Forget texting. Sex could be the next greatest safety hazard facing our roadways.
As semi-autonomous systems like Tesla's Autopilot or Honda Sensing become more prevalent and lull drivers into a false sense of security, a new form of distracted driving might endanger people on the roads: in-car sex.
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"I am predicting that, once computers are doing the driving, there will be a lot more sex in cars," Barrie Kirk of the Canadian Automated Vehicles Centre of Excellence told the CBC.
You might imagine, this is perhaps the most distracting thing you can do in a car. Accordingly, it could be devastatingly dangerous. Google estimates it takes 17 seconds to respond to an semi-autonomous car's prompts to retake control of the vehicle. I can only imagine, if in the midst of coitus, it's a bit longer than that.
Image: Volvo cars
Although I hadn't considered in-car sex as a form of distracted driving, I suppose it's a possibility and a credible fear. I mean, people are already having sex in human-driven cars — and crashing. At least, that's what I've heard anecdotally from tow-truck drivers. What's to stop them from doing it more when cars are temporarily in control of driving duties?
In the long run, when fully autonomous cars are on the road, this won't be an issue. That's because the machine will be the driver, not the human. However, in semi-autonomous cars, the human is required to take over the driving responsibilities at any time. That means, they need to remain focused on the road ahead. Sex would certainly get in the way of that.
Heck, people are already doing "crazy things" with their Teslas when in Autopilot mode like climbing into the back seat. What's stopping them from adding an activity to their back seat visit?
