This is true. All those “defensive driving” courses people take, then ignore, teach us to pay attention and allow plenty of space between us and the vehicle ahead. That way we might be prepared to deal with some dumbass cutting into the fast lane ahead of a line of cars, then coming to a complete stop.
On the other hand, cutting into the fast lane ahead of a line of cars, then coming to a complete stop is a dumbass move. I grant that human drivers pull this sort of stunt every day, and the outcome depends upon how alert and skillful (and lucky) the other human drivers are. But I’d argue that if we’re going to hand our lives over to a self-driving car, that car should perform like the idealized motorists taught in driving school. Knowing that my AI car simply drives no worse than the average schmuck isn’t very reassuring.
