TO THE EDITOR:
I predict production of Level 5 autonomous vehicles will not happen in the next 75 years. Maybe in warm Southern California, but not in the cold Upper Midwest. Notice, they do not say how range will differ in a pickup pulling 10,000 pounds. Try pulling your six-place snowmobile trailer at 80 mph 500 miles north and see how far you get. Someday maybe, but not soon.
I know really well what it takes to make a million of something for years on end, and we have a long way to go until true Level 5 AVs roam the roads.
We have had cruise control for over 60 years, but many people today will not use it. Why? I think because it takes away control. Face it, you do not want to have someone overtake you on a highway at one-quarter mph over your speed.
I even use adaptive cruise in stop-and-go traffic. It works great — down to 0 mph and back up to 75 mph without touching the brake or accelerator pedal. But who has even tried this?
STEPHEN RUTH, Holly, Mich. The writer is a retired vice president of engineering for a manufacturer of transmission parts.
