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Comment by yazaddaruvala | Hacker News Reader

The myth about good vs bad drivers has long been out to bed.

All drivers are better than average drivers.

The problem for all humans is alcohol, sleep deprivation, stress, phones, coffee, makeup, shaving, food, etc.

Everyone, including you, has read at least one text while driving. Sleep deprived actors by definition cannot correctly judge their ability to be sleep deprived. None of us are immune to these realities.

The only way safely (with data) testing self-driving robots is “net worsening” for humanity is if you aren’t taking a long term view.

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> Sleep deprived actors by definition cannot correctly judge their ability to be sleep deprived.

What is that supposed to mean?

Especially 'by definition'??

Your body gives you plenty of feedback for sleep deprivation.

Sleep deprivation causes a reduction in ability to reason. Similar to being drunk. A drunk person can also feel drunk, but “how drunk is too drunk?” Similarly “how sleep deprived is too deprived?”

The answer is, at a minimum, that a second “sober” party make that judgement.

"If you can feel it, you're too drunk" is the answer these days, so I don't think even that one is true anymore. And as far as I'm aware it's a good bit easier to tell how sleep deprived you are than how drunk, am I wrong on that?

I think I understand your original post better now, but I disagree with how high of a bar you're setting for "correctly". "Am I sleep deprived?" is not a question that needs precise measurement.

> Everyone, including you, has read at least one text while driving.

No.

Yes. You are just in denial.

Nope. Believe it or not, some of us put our phones away when we drive. Mine is either in my hip pocket or center console. I couldn’t read a text while driving even if I wanted to.

Driving is one of two things I regularly do in which a moment’s inattention could cost someone’s life (belaying climbers is the other). I take both very seriously. I’ve seen brains spilled out on the roadway by someone who didn’t, and I’ll never forget that.

You are in denial. Plenty of people understand the weight of sitting behind the wheel and have the self control to devote the attention that driving deserves. If you don't have the self control, you should admit it and try to better yourself. But don't try to pretend that no human has surpassed you at the task of driving without glancing at a phone. Many have.

Absolutely ridiculous.

I have not and will not touch my phone while driving, and I obnoxiously ridicule those close to me that choose to do so near me.

It sounds like YOU'RE in denial and trying to convince yourself that it's absolutely unquestionably ubiquitous -- it's not, and it's a danger to yourself and even to those others on the road that made better choices.

You must be fun at parties. It was in jest.

I know that’s not-done around here, but I must admit it makes the eventual slip up just slightly more delicious.

Yeah, doubt. The idiots weaving through highway traffic at 20mph faster than the flow of traffic begs to differ.

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