Small Things Count

The DMV can change my life!  They’re devising rules for self-driving cars.  It will probably mean some sort of training or test, then a sticker on our driver’s license authorizing a person to be a passenger in such a car.  The technology already has safety-features built into it, and there will be more.  For example, a sophisticated computer monitors speed and proximity to other vehicles, and it can react to sudden dangers, like an elephant falling from the pick-up in front of us.  (They’re worried that a computer might not react as quickly as a human, but consider all the drunk drivers, brand-new drivers, and ones who should have given up their licenses years ago for a variety of reasons.)  Also, the computer would not talk on a cell phone, eat McDonald’s, apply make-up, squeeze a zit, let Fluffy ride on its lap, or turn around to break up a fight between Suzie and Johnny…it would just drive.

All this sounds good to me.  But let’s not stop there.  After all, living life is just as dangerous as driving a car.  Training, a license, safety-features, no negative distractions—why not?  Give me a self-driving life, please!