Self-driving cars are set to transform the transportation industry. They offer many benefits, such as improved road safety and freeing up time for people, as they can use their time to do more productive things instead of having to focus on driving during their commute.
Since the start of commercial auto production, the industry has seen a number of momentous shifts that have improved vehicle function and performance. Newer cars have already got automated features built into them, such as collision and parking detection. Tech and auto companies are working hard to supply vehicles that are capable of superior navigation, but don’t require human input.
There are so many opportunities within the industry of driverless technology and today, we will be discussing what the future of self-driving cars might look like.
What Can They Do?
Autonomous vehicles are ranked on a six-tier scale. Level 0 means that there is no automation and the driver is responsible for all of the core driving tasks. Level 5 means that the vehicle can perform every driving function without any human input. Some top of the range vehicles that are available to consumers have up to Level 3 automation. Even though this technology has come on in leaps and bounds, there’s a long way to go before Level 4 and 5 automated vehicles can become available to the public.
Are Driverless Cars Safe?
One of the biggest questions people have about self-driving cars is how safe they are. A number of reports suggest that driverless cars are actually safer than vehicles that are operated by humans. 98% of motor vehicle accidents occur due to human error. Driverless car technology can’t be influenced, or distracted, and it has been designed to follow traffic laws. This means that the number of road accidents could be reduced when the number of self-driving cars increases.
What About Accident Liability?
Driverless cars can improve the safety of our roads, but this doesn’t mean accidents won’t ever occur. If a self-driving vehicle is involved in an accident, it can be hard to determine who is at fault. The state laws will play a part in who is to blame and, in some cases, the car manufacturer may be held accountable. If you’re involved in one and someone is injured, you should call the emergency services and get in contact with automobile injury lawyers, as they will have experience in car accident claims.
Will They Be Accepted?
People feel uncomfortable about things that they don’t fully understand. Autonomous vehicles are very new and we essentially put our safety in the hands of technology. Due to this, there are a number of perceptual issues that need to be dealt with before self-driving cars become fully accepted by the community. Giving people the opportunity to intermingle with fully or even partially automated vehicle technology can help put consumers at ease, which will lead to greater acceptance.
The future of self-driving vehicles looks bright, but a lot needs to be explored and developed before the higher levels of driverless technology can be made available to consumers. However, when this does occur, the roads could be a safer and more productive place.
