For this weekend engagement I answer whether I would prefer an autonomous or manual vehicle. So let's look and the pro's and con's of each.
Manual
There is something lovely about driving a manual car when you are driving it somewhere nice and when its nice weather. And of course you have a nice car. There is a real buzz to it.
However, that is usually how I drive in my dreams rather than my daily life. Where I live, its expensive to drive, there are very limited places to park and there are a lot of traffic jams. Its usually easier to take public transport than to find parking anywhere near where I want to go. Quite often driving is the expensive and impractical alternative to other forms of transport.
Autonomous
In theory at least, an autonomous car could drop me to the door of where I want to go and then go and park somewhere which wouldn't cost me so much. So from that respect, it could be convenient.
Also, since I wouldn't be driving, I could work on my laptop when on route to my destination. I often take trains for that very reason - I can work as I travel. Where as if I drive, its quite tiring and is a waste of time.
Obvious winner?
So it seems that I would prefer an autonomous vehicle? Well if I had to choose, I probably would go for an autonomous vehicle.
However, what about a safety comparison?
Well, at the moment we don't quite seem to be there with the tech and I would feel safer driving by myself. However, I am sure that its just a matter of time before autonomous vehicles are safer on average than manually driving cars.
I actually think when that happens, the insurance companies will make it nearly impossible to drive a manual car by making the insurance so expensive that it excludes most drivers. Why would insurance companies encourage manual driving when automated driving was safer for them to insure?
Missing the old days
People would miss the old days and would probably want to drive recreationally to get the buzz of controlling a vehicle. I hope one day that there are place to go and do that whilst keeping the roads safe.
Finally
So, I choose a fully automated vehicle because it would actually be more practical for me. Hopefully though, with the chance to drive a manual recreationally again at some point.
