Autonorama: The Illusory Promise of High-Tech Driving

Technology historian Peter Norton argues that driverless cars cannot be the safe, sustainable, and inclusive "mobility solutions" that tech companies and automakers are promising us. He advocates for wise, proven, humane mobility that we can invest in now, without waiting for technology that is forever just out of reach.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 29 October 2021
Publisher: Island Press

The Foundation for Fully Autonomous Vehicles

In 2016, Elon Musk made a bold proclamation, promising that Tesla would have a driverless fleet on the road in 2017. He confidently asserted that these autonomous vehicles would be twice as safe as human drivers, if not safer. Such promises of techno-futuristic driving utopias have become ubiquitous in the world of technology companies and carmakers. However, in his book "Autonorama: The Illusory Promise of High-Tech Driving," technology historian Peter Norton challenges the notion that driverless cars can be the safe, sustainable, and inclusive "mobility solutions" that these companies are promising.

Norton argues that the salesmanship behind the driverless future is distracting us from investing in better ways to get around that we can implement now. Unlike autonomous vehicles, which are expensive and technologically complex, these alternatives are inexpensive, safe, sustainable, and inclusive. Norton takes the reader on an engaging journey, from the GM Futurama exhibit to "smart" highways and vehicles, to demonstrate how we are once again being sold car dependency in the guise of mobility.

He argues that we cannot see what tech companies are selling us except in the light of history. For decades, we have been promised that new technology will solve the problems that car dependency has given us, such as zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion. However, these promises have only perpetuated our car dependency for 80 years.

"Autonorama" is a hopeful book, advocating for wise, proven, and humane mobility that we can invest in now, without waiting for technology that is forever just out of reach. Norton suggests that before intelligent systems, data, and technology can serve us, we need wisdom. He draws upon the wisdom of Rachel Carson, who warned us that when we seek technological solutions instead of ecological balance, we can make our problems worse. With this wisdom, Norton contends, we can meet our mobility needs with what we have right now.

In conclusion, "Autonorama" is a thought-provoking book that challenges the prevailing narrative of driverless cars as the future of transportation. It encourages us to look beyond the salesmanship and consider the more affordable, safe, sustainable, and inclusive alternatives that are available to us right now. By investing in these alternatives, we can break free from the cycle of car dependency and work towards a more sustainable and equitable future.

Weight: 428g
Dimension: 140 x 211 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781642832402