Why We Shouldn't Rush Into Self-Driving Cars

Full script

Read the whole talk.

All slides in one place. Read it through once, then practice slide by slide.

1. 01Why We Shouldn't Rush Into Self-Driving Cars

   Good afternoon, everyone. Self-driving cars are exciting, and I understand why many people want them on our streets. But today, I'll argue that our city shouldn't rush into allowing them.

   大家午安。自動駕駛汽車令人興奮，我也理解為什麼很多人希望它們出現在我們的街道上。但今天，我要論證我們的城市不應該急於允許它們上路。

2. 02What's Happening Now

   Let's start with the facts. Waymo has run a fully driverless ride service in Phoenix since 2020, and in San Francisco and Los Angeles since 2024. So the question is no longer whether this is possible, but whether it's ready for everywhere.

   我們先從事實說起。Waymo從2020年起在鳳凰城運營完全無人駕駛的叫車服務，從2024年起在舊金山和洛杉磯運營。所以問題已經不再是這件事是否可行，而是它是否已經準備好在任何地方使用。

   Source: Waymo, service launches in Phoenix (2020) and San Francisco and Los Angeles (2024)

3. 03Reason 1: Who Collected the Data?

   Supporters often point to a 2024 study showing far fewer insurance claims for Waymo cars than for human drivers. Those results are impressive. But the study was carried out together with Waymo itself, and most safety data comes from the companies that sell the technology.

   支持者經常引用2024年的一項研究，研究顯示Waymo汽車的保險索賠遠少於人類駕駛員。這些結果令人印象深刻。但這項研究是與Waymo公司共同進行的，而且大部分安全資料都來自銷售這項技術的公司。

   Source: Swiss Re & Waymo, liability claims study of 25.3 million autonomous miles (December 2024)

4. 04Reason 2: Not Every City Is the Same

   My second reason is that cities are different. A car that works well on wide, sunny streets may struggle with snow, heavy rain, or narrow old roads like ours. Success in one place doesn't guarantee success everywhere.

   我的第二個理由是，每個城市都不一樣。一輛在寬闊、陽光充足的街道上表現良好的車，遇到下雪、大雨，或者像我們這裡這樣狹窄的老街，可能就會應付不來。在一個地方成功，並不能保證在所有地方都成功。

5. 05Reason 3: What Happens to Drivers' Jobs?

   My third concern is jobs. Many people in our city earn a living by driving taxis, buses, and delivery vans. If we move too fast, we could leave them without a plan for their future.

   我的第三個擔憂是就業。我們城市裡有很多人靠開計程車、公車和送貨車謀生。如果我們推進得太快，就可能讓他們對未來毫無著落。

6. 06Admittedly, Humans Make Mistakes Too

   Admittedly, human drivers are far from perfect. They get tired and distracted. I'm not saying self-driving cars should never come. I'm saying we should be sure before we let them in.

   不可否認，人類駕駛員遠非完美。他們會疲勞，也會分心。我並不是說自動駕駛汽車永遠不該來。我是說，在讓它們進來之前，我們應該先確認清楚。

7. 07A Careful Path

   Instead of rushing, I suggest a careful path: independent safety testing in our own conditions, a small trial area first, and a clear plan to retrain drivers whose jobs may change.

   與其操之過急，我建議走一條穩妥的路：在我們自己的條件下進行獨立的安全測試，先劃定一個小範圍的試驗區，並制定明確的計劃，為工作可能受到影響的司機提供再培訓。

8. 08Conclusion

   To conclude, self-driving cars may have a bright future, but a city is not a laboratory. Let's collect our own evidence and protect the people affected before we open our streets. Thank you.

   最後，自動駕駛汽車也許有光明的未來，但城市不是實驗室。在開放我們的街道之前，讓我們先收集自己的證據，保護好受影響的人。謝謝大家。