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> Obviously a kid running out from behind a car this late is fairly difficult for any human or self driving system to avoid

That's why you slow down when you pass a bus (or a huge american SUV).



In this case, you stop for the bus that is displaying the flashing red lights.

Every driver/car that obeys the law has absolutely no problem avoiding this collision with the child, which is why the bus has flashing lights and a stop sign.


I'm honestly shocked that all versions of Tesla assisted/self-driving don't have a hardcoded stopped schoolbus exception to force slow driving.

Worst case, you needlessly slow down around a roadside parked schoolbus.

Best case, you save a kid's life.


If it merely slowed down, it would still be driving illegally. Everywhere I've driven in the USA, if there is a stopped school bus in front of you, or on the other side of the road, all traffic on the road must stop and remain stopped until the school bus retracts the sign and resumes driving.


Point being, if it always slowed down (sign or no sign), then at least reaction time requirements would be lessened.


I mean, it can be programmed in any way, so why not program it to follow both rules: If the sign is extended, then stop. Else if the sign is not extended, slow down.


if(bus) slow

if(bus and sign) stop

Then at least it fails slightly safer.


if I put a stop sign somewhere is that legal? or there's some statute (or at least local ordinance) that says that yellow buses on this and this route can have moving stop signs?


Obviously, there is law that forms the basis for this. In Massachusetts, it's MGL c. 90 § 14

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/mass-general-laws-c90-ss-1...


Yes, in the US, school buses come equipped with a stop sign that they extend when stopping to let kids on and off the bus. You (as a driver) are required to stop (and not pass) on both sides of the road while the bus has their sign extended.


It's almost as if we need human-level intelligence to be actually able to reason about the nuances of applicability of traffic signs :).


Exactly. If your view is obstructed by something, anything, you slow down.




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