Should Drivers Be Worried about Self-Driving Cars on the Road?

Self-driving cars once seemed like an unimaginable technology saved for science fiction, but they are becoming a quick reality in America and may end up on Illinois streets faster than one might think. Per a white paper issued by KPMG, GM plans to have semi-autonomous vehicles hitting the road by 2020 with Nissan joining them with autonomous drive in many of their vehicles by the end of this decade.

How will self-driving cars be successful? The foremost factor, according to KPMG, is the improvement of quality of life for the consumer. There also needs to be clear expectations of new opportunities as well as potential problems regarding mobile and on-demand services.

Consumer Reports turns to research that claims 90 percent of car accidents are due to human error. Its stance is that self-driving cars will help reduce this percentage as well as help ease traffic congestion and allow for extended driving time for aging Americans. It also mentions system advancements that already have introduced this type of vehicle technology including:

• Cruise control;
• Pedestrian detection;
• Self-parking;
• Vehicle-to-vehicle communication; and
• Lane departure warning.

Google has spearheaded self-driving car projects and claims the car’s software is sophisticated enough to never tire, become distracted, or engage in defensive driving. Its programmed to detect objects on the road at the same time, including cyclists, pedestrians, buses, and whatever may impede traffic. Currently, only California, Michigan, Nevada, Florida, and Washington, D.C. have approved companies testing autonomous vehicles on public roads.

Does this make self-driving cars safer? Who claims accident responsibility? Researchers say autonomous cars will have data collection to detail accurate picture of any incidents that occur to illustrate who should be held liable.

Technology is changing the face of how we function, especially in regards to transportation. The laws have evolved as we have become more mobile and may change again due to reliance on new driving advancements.

Our law firm remains on the cutting edge of these updates and how they affect public safety and the law. If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident in Illinois, contact an experienced Chicago car accident attorney today.