There are different driving cues that help to alert fellow drivers of dangers on the road. The ability to honk is a great asset to the human driving experience. There are, of course, necessary human skills that help to determine when honking is necessary. The human intuition and reasoning is something that has been an ongoing challenge for the Google car engineers.
Subtle actions, like not completely stopping at a stop sign, have left Google cars frozen in place. The computer programs that help these vehicles accomplish their daily tasks must be programmed to respond to an ongoing list of variables that occur in everyday driving situations. Humans have the advantage of being able to reason out how to act in different circumstances, while the computer does what it is programmed to do. While software engineers are working improved technology, some other etiquette details will have to be considered.
Horns on cars have become a very cultural and social commodity. They are used in some communities as mans to say hello and acknowledge people, not just as a warning of an impending negative event. Google must consider the differences depending on country and region where the car will be driving. Busy cities with a lot of traffic can be very loud with constant noise from brakes and horns. It is important for people to be able to differentiate a warning from among all of the other noise.
Google is thinking of a sequence of 2 lighter honks to alert drivers and pedestrians of smaller issues, while a more intrusive sound will be used to imply serious impending danger. The goal is always to keep the Google car driving in a safe and efficient manner. The increased safety of the general population will, hopefully, be a part of the new Google honking implementation. Google cars will continue to improve their driving experience to make their vehicles fit in better with the human drivers.
Google Self-Driving Car Project monthly reports (PDF)
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