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How Driverless Cars Will Revolutionize & The Risks Involved
Truthisscary
More than 90 percent of traffic accidents are caused by human error and costs the U.S. hundreds of billions of dollars a year, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. Meanwhile, a report by the Center for Transportation estimates that over 1,000 lives would be saved and there would be 211,000 fewer crashes every year if just 10 percent of vehicles were autonomous on U.S. roadways. While we’re still years away from fully automated vehicles hitting the road, there are prototypes being tested and driverless technology assistance on the road right now.
Driverless Safety and Ease
Driverless cars will make it possible to catch-up on work, read a book or chat with family without touching a steering wheel. These cars also can avoid accidents and quickly correct without the need for driver intervention. Even if cars aren’t completely driverless, they could benefit from driverless technology in just a few short years. For example, drivers navigating through a traffic jam could rely on traffic-jam assistance capabilities. At this point, the car would be able to take over, inch its way through traffic and then alert you when it’s time to take control of the wheel again.
New Motor Laws in California
Google’s fully automated driverless car doesn’t have a steering wheel, brakes or pedal, and serves as a passenger vessel. However, as of Sept. 16, 2014, new motor laws in California say that drivers must be able to take on immediate physical control of a vehicle in order to travel on U.S. roads, reports The Economist. So, Google will have to tweak their designs to comply with the new rules before it hits the road. The release of new prototypes and approved models will only lead to an expanded vision, says CNN.
While major tech companies like Google are creating these cars mainly for innovators and futurists, will driverless cars ever be mainstream? For instance, will there be driverless family cars like the SUVs and minivans that are so common now? Will laws like California’s inhibit these innovations? Only time will tell.
Google’s Competitors
Google isn’t the only one working on driverless technology, though. BMW and Audi both debuted their latest driverless cars at the CES technology trade show. The event took place in Nevada, which also is one of the few states allowing driverless testing as long as someone is sitting in the driver’s seat at all times. BMW’s 2 Series Coupe even has the ability to respond to critical situations and adjust for near collisions, reports CNN. Meanwhile, Audi’s Self1e A7 features technology to help reduce accidents and assist a driver. Additionally, the A7 can automatically keep pace with vehicles ahead, stop itself, speed up and stay in its lane without the need for a driver, explains The Wall Street Journal.
Future Benefits
Zipcar revolutionized the car rental industry by creating a system where you pick-up a car and pay by the hour. In the future, a driverless car could take that concept a step further. You could get rid of your car all together, and instead order a car to come directly to your house. Hop in and the car could whisk you away to do errands, go on a road trip or just get to and from a party without the inconvenience of finding a committed designated driver.
Potential Driverless Risks
While driverless cars promise to reduce auto accidents and save lives, there are potential risks. Hacking into cars is a real threat, states Venture Beat. If a driver can start a car with their smartphone, it also could be used to turn off an engine and wreak havoc. Tampering with driverless shipments, deliveries and disrupting control systems are also cause for concern.
Aside from sophisticated cyber threats, driverless cars need a higher level of thinking to handle simple issues. If a policeman is waving you down, the car may see him and slow down, but probably won’t know to stop and investigate the issue. However, that doesn’t mean a driverless car has no higher thought. Today’s prototypes already know when to avoid a nuisance intersection and adjust for being cut-off or entering work zones, reports The Washington Post.
The possibilities are endless for driverless cars. Not only could they help with road safety and commuting times but imagine taking a snooze under your sun roof while your car zips down the highway on an overnight roadtrip. Who knows?
Source: http://truthisscary.com/2014/09/how-driverless-cars-will-revolutionize-the-risks-involved/
