Crash in recent self-driving car test leaves some worried about automated travel’s future

Autonomous vehicles are the biggest innovation to happen to cars. These vehicles can travel using cameras and sensors and lack the need for human input while on the road. Pioneers in the field such as Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk believe that self-driving cars will positively benefit society. However, some believe that self-driving cars will end up causing more problems than they solve. Recent controversies such as Uber’s recent fatal self-driving car crash have left many uneasy about the future of these automobiles. I want to lay out the most significant pros and cons to self-driving cars to further dive into this issue.

Out of the gate, self-driving vehicles present many exciting upsides. First, self-driving cars could be used by people with disabilities. This includes people whose vision leaves them unable to drive and people who have brain and muscle conditions that impair motor skills. This would make travel more convenient and accessible to those with mobility issues. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, human error causes over 90% percent of car crashes. If autonomous vehicles work as designed, this could potentially mitigate the number of car accidents. In addition, drunk driving incidents would decrease as well as inebriated drivers would not have to drive themselves. This could result in up to $190,000 in health care costs saved yearly in the U.S for instance.  Lastly, other costs such as vehicle insurance could go down as well. These potential upsides are motivating innovators to develop these vehicles.

Self-driving vehicles come with their share of downsides as well. Problems would arise with potential glitches within the cars’ computers. If the self-driving cars malfunction on the road this could lead to accidents. While developers estimate that the total amount of car crashes would go down with automated vehicles on the road, the public may still mistrust their lives in the hands of the computer. On top of that, laws would have to be created to deal with autonomous car related crashes. Who is liable in the case of an accident? There is a substantial economic concern as well. Many people in America make a living driving cars, buses, and trucks for commercial, agricultural, and business purposes. Many fear that autonomous vehicles will cause workers to lose their jobs. This potential downside has called into question the need for potential economic reform.

As these vehicles continue to be tested, it is essential for people to question and debate the pros and cons of these innovations. When self-driving cars enter modern society, there is no doubt that they will revolutionize modern travel. However, if laws, regulations, and economic reforms aren’t efficiently implemented, then society could very well suffer. Self-driving cars may be exciting to Silicon Valley – but is the rest of the world ready? Only time will tell.