# The paradox of automation and self driving cars https://blog.cynexia.com/the-paradox-of-automation-and-self-driving-cars Author: [Rob Aleck](https://blog.cynexia.com/pages/about) · https://github.com/mnbf9rca · https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertaleck/ · https://family-foqos.app/ Published: 2018-05-31 Categories: LinkedIn cross-post It's becoming increasingly apparent that Level 2 "self driving" cars are quite simply dangerous. The most recent incident (involving a Tesla model S which crashed in to a parked police car) has highlighted that partially automating the complex task of "driving" is potentially worse than not automating it at all ([http://uk.businessinsider.com/teslas-autopilot-faces-scrutiny-after-accidents-2018-5]()). But the "paradox of automation" is not a new phenomena - economist Tim Harford has previously written about this problem ([https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/oct/11/crash-how-computers-are-setting-us-up-disaster]()), and Alphabet has chosen to skip Level 2 automation entirely, heading straight for vehicles which need no human intervention at all ("level 4" and beyond) [http://www.thedrive.com/tech/15848/waymo-is-already-running-cars-with-no-one-behind-the-wheel]()