Autopilot cars in Israel

Yesterday, I visited a technology company in Jerusalem, and the person in charge of it showed me a new technological product. Once installed in a car, this product can alert the driver to situations that may cause traffic accidents, such as another vehicle cutting into his lane at a close distance, a pedestrian dashing out or the car being too close to the one in front.

The new product can be installed either at factory or in an ordinary garage as an aftermarket modification. Established 16 years ago by a university professor, this technology company is now listed in the United States with a market value of US$11 billion.

The company has also developed another new product which can be installed on the windscreen of an ordinary vehicle and drive it automatically. Yesterday, the person in charge of the company drove a car onto a highway and switched it to autopilot mode. He then took his hands and feet off the controls and let the car navigate its way on the road. When another vehicle cut him off, the car automatically slowed down. The device can also read a traffic light and will decelerate and stop the car at a red light. During the journey, the driver can chat, use the phone or read a newspaper.

It may be premature to introduce autopilot vehicles to Hong Kong at this stage. But we may consider using technological devices to prevent traffic accidents, an innovation which is already popular in foreign countries.

As I have always said in Hong Kong, technology could make our lives safer, more convenient and more comfortable.

October 14, 2015