The Good and Bad of Autonomous Vehicles
In 2018, there were numerous breakthroughs and downfalls for self-driving cars. It is without a doubt self-driving cars hold the potential to reduce car accidents and save tons of lives, but only if they are programmed to be in sync with all other vehicles on the road. As driverless cars went from a startup prototype to reality, the rest of the world is now wondering where this technology will be heading. Many questions concerning autonomous vehicles remain unanswered as we wait to see further technological development. Below is a recap of the big moments for driverless vehicles in 2018.
Fatal Uber Self-Driving Car Accident
The tragic accident in Arizona that killed Elaine Herzberg took place in March of last year. Ultimately, Uber was at fault for the crash, because their vehicle failed to notice an oncoming pedestrian. Many believe that in their rush to win the autonomous vehicle war, the company took shortcuts that led to an imprecise, rigid software system. However, it was later revealed that the human backup driver had been on the phone at the time of the incident. Uber’s self-driving car programs were shut down in Arizona by the state governor, and they were also temporarily closed at their headquarters in Pittsburgh.
Waymo Proves Itself to Be a Leading Company
Waymo made rapid progress in 2018 – in July, the company announced that their autonomous cars had driven eight million miles on public roads. To demonstrate their success even further, one million of those miles were achieved in just one month. Furthermore, they hold more on-road experience than all of their competitors. Waymo is making use of their knowledge by expanding their services to real people, with an emphasis on alleviating transportation difficulties for families, disabled people, and transit employees.
Slow and Steady Shuttles Win the Race
Surprisingly, the autonomous vehicles that had the biggest impact were some of the least flashy ones. In multiple cities nationwide, self-driving shuttles made slow but important trips across college campuses and tourist corridors. Going at a rate of 20 mph, these slow minibusses played a crucial role in introducing people to the practicality of self-driving technology.
Loose Regulations Remain a Problem
For the most part, the nitty-gritty details behind the autonomous vehicle framework have yet to be disclosed by the U.S. Department of Transportation. In October it was announced that the safety rules would be revised in a way that will allow for significant changes to the manufacturing of driverless cars. This could mean that we may see autonomous cars with no steering wheels or some other atypical design. However, there was a bill regulating autonomous cars that stalled in Congress. This bill will be reintroduced sometime this year.
Watch YouTube Video: The Future of Self-Driving Cars. The video below provides a glimpse of how autonomous vehicles can shape the future of transportation.
Sacramento Self Driving Car Accident Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Self Driving Car Accident Lawyer. Self-driving car technology is expanding quickly, but it is still an imperfect system that has major room for improvement. If you were injured by a driverless car, your best bet is to speak with an injury lawyer in your area. Call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly legal advice.
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The Good and Bad of Autonomous Vehicles: AutoAccident.com
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