The end of driving culture
Ask someone about their travels, and one of the first topics they’ll remark on is how the people, wherever they were visiting, drove their cars . There are New York drivers, aggressive, impatient, and honky. There are California drivers, well adapted to freeway-coasting bumper-to-bumper congestion. In Florida they drive fast; in Maine they drive slow. This is by no means limited to the United…
People often remark on the driving habits of those they encounter while traveling. New York drivers tend to be aggressive and impatient, while Californians adapt well to the congestion of freeway commuting. Florida drivers are known for their speed, and Maine drivers tend to be more cautious. This phenomenon is not limited to the United States, as Cairo's drivers navigate city streets without traffic signals, beeping as a form of communication.
In Jakarta, drivers in morning traffic circles decelerate to hand over tips to traffic conductors who keep the flow of traffic moving. As self-driving car technology advances, the unique driving cultures around the world may be replaced by a world dominated by autonomous vehicles. Companies like Waymo, Motional, and Tesla are investing heavily in this technology, with the goal of creating safer and more efficient driving experiences.
While software rule could streamline many aspects of driving, it is clear that some aspects of human culture, such as the pride in learning to drive and the camaraderie of being a passenger, may be lost in the transition.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
