Rise of Autonomous Vehicles: A Blessing or a Curse for Accident Rates?

Autonomous vehicles were once a futuristic dream. Now, almost every auto manufacturer has some sort of autonomy available in new vehicles available for sale. These vehicles are marketed as being safer, but how safe are they?

Currently, there is a lack of industry standards and legislation, which means automakers are hyping up autonomous vehicles even though the ones on the road today are not fully self-driving. As technology develops, the push for making driverless cars continues.

Even though automakers claim they are safer, they have a higher rate of accidents than cars driven by humans. These AI-propelled vehicles may be a blessing in some ways, but they can contribute to more car accidents.

Providing a False Sense of Security

The trouble with the marketing is that these cars are frequently referred to as “driverless.” This gives consumers the assumption that they get to sit back and be a passenger while their cars do all the tasks associated with driving.

The majority of accidents involving self-driving vehicles have been due to the human driver becoming distracted. They are led to believe the vehicle will make the right maneuvers, but it is the driver who should be prepared and alert and ready to react.

Fire Dangers

In an accident, an autonomous electric vehicle has the potential to do more damage. Electric vehicles are heavier because of their lithium-ion batteries, which are highly combustible. Not only will an out of control electric vehicle cause a greater impact, but it can also pose a major fire risk to the occupants.

Nascent Technology

While autonomous vehicles have great potential, the technology is still very new. Many of the vehicles with active driving assistance systems have issues, and when a problem occurs, a driver must take control immediately. Due to the false sense of security, drivers of these vehicles may not realize there’s a problem until it’s too late.

Understanding the Complexities of Driving Conditions in the Real World

There are many things that can be completely automated, but nothing can replace an engaged driver. You may need to make split-second decisions behind the wheel. You may be at a stop sign and need to avoid a driver who ignored the sign and could cause a T-bone collision. The weather can change in an instant and thus, change the way you need to drive.

Technology can be very useful, and some automotive assistance technologies can be lifesaving. However, at this point, fully autonomous vehicles are simply not ready to replace a human driver.

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What to Know About the Lack of Regulations for Autonomous Vehicles

The push for self-driving vehicles from automakers and advocacy groups is huge, but there needs to be a greater push for safety. Despite the lack of regulations, these cars are being thrust into the market with little to no oversight.

Those concerned about safety continue to warn that there needs to be more rules to protect people if they get in an accident with an autonomous vehicle. At the current time, there are no obligations for self-driving vehicle manufacturers to participate in reporting vehicle safety tests to the federal government.

There are many layers of complexity because of these issues, which can only mean that personal injury cases that arise from these crashes will be more complex. If you have been hurt in an autonomous vehicle accident, you should discuss your case with an attorney who understands the complications that can come from these types of car accident cases.