Self-driving cars are viewed as the future of the motor industry and personal transportation since they are designed to eliminate human error on the roads. These autonomous vehicles are expected to improve traffic safety as they include high-tech features that help them navigate different roads without a driver. However, you should know that, at the moment, there is no car that is completely driverless. Autonomous cars also have their downsides that you must know about. Read on to learn the good and bad that self-driving cars will bring.
Eliminate Human Error
According to research, the majority of car crashes are caused by human error. Therefore, autonomous vehicles can significantly reduce collisions and that can go a long way in saving human lives. This new development will also lead to cost savings of billions of dollars in healthcare when road accidents are reduced. Self-driving cars are equipped with lidar sensors that reduce the possibility of a driver being distracted, and they can navigate roads without human input.
Disabled and Senior Support
Driverless cars offer great news for disabled persons and seniors who rely on assistance from others to get around. People with impaired mobility and those suffering from other disabilities that affect their reaction times or eyesight can find comfort in moving around in autonomous vehicles without having to drive. With autonomous cars, disabled people can live more independent lives.
Improved Speed
Self-driving vehicles can travel at fast speeds since they are controlled by computers that are capable of eliminating human error that can lead to crashes. Higher speeds are possible since computers can calculate distances more efficiently. This development will help reduce travel time on roads while at the same time maintaining safety.
Cheaper Insurance
With driverless cars, insurance may become cheaper since the vehicle will make all decisions. The insurance risk goes to the car or the manufacturer which reduces the burden of high premiums on the driver. Drivers can save a lot of money given that these driverless cars can also reduce accidents that constitute the bulk of claims every year in many states.
Responsibility for crashes
The major issue with self-driving vehicles, which is still a topic for debate, relates to crashes. While these vehicles are touted as safe – since they eliminate human error – they are not completely accident-free. In the event of a crash, it becomes difficult to prove liability. A close analysis of this helpful article shows that car liability in an accident involving a driverless vehicle remains a debatable issue. Since the car will be driving itself, it becomes difficult to hold the driver or the manufacturer of the car liable for the crash.
They Lack Common Sense
One major drawback of driverless vehicles is that they are not as smart as humans. These cars will be driven by computers that are manufactured and programmed by humans. Therefore, it might not be possible for the autonomous vehicle to “think or reason” better than a human being. For instance, driverless cars may not work well with pedestrians. It may be difficult for the car to determine what is on the pedestrian’s mind and what they intend to do.
Break under Bad Weather
Since driverless cars use high-tech systems to monitor and track road signs, extreme weather conditions like snow can affect their functionality. Manufacturers of different autonomous cars have indicated that bad weather is the primary cause of issues related to system failure. While it is safe to say that self-driving cars will become the norm in the future, it remains to be seen how the manufacturers will address the problem of extreme weather conditions.
Loss of Jobs
There is a risk that many people may lose their jobs if the concept of driverless vehicles finally takes hold. For instance, services like Uber will be greatly impacted since the model of the self-driving car aims to eliminate the costly part which is the driver. Many driving jobs will disappear, and this can contribute to high unemployment rates.
Self-driving cars are likely to bring many changes to the automobile industry and transform our personal transportation. Autonomous cars are designed to eliminate human error, which causes hundreds of thousands of accidents around the world every year. These vehicles can also go a long way in ensuring safety on the roads while at the same time improving the lives of disabled people. However, self-driving cars have their disadvantages as well, the most prominent being that they cannot (yet) outsmart the human mind. If you are considering upgrading to a self-driving car, make sure you carefully examine the pros and cons first to make an informed decision.
