It doesn’t take much time behind the wheel of a car to notice that our roadways are filled with drivers who are safe and attentive and then those who are one maneuver away from causing a major accident.
Despite the safety features like crash avoidance and lane departure, a majority of roadway incidents are directly related to driver error. According to the latest data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2015, 96 people died each day in motor vehicle crashes, and 6,700 were injured.
With self-driving cars on the horizon and many auto manufacturers rushing to get their first autonomous car on the road, will self-driving cars be safer than today’s drivers? In many ways, yes, and here’s why:
The Sensors
Self-driving cars are equipped with numerous sensors, such as cameras and radar, to mimic humans. The sensors on the cars constantly collect data around them so they can operate safely and efficiently in a constantly changing environment, like the road.
While trying to replace the human driver with sensors and a catalogue of information sounds like a time-intensive task, a better “driver” will emerge from all the hard work. Think about the average driver. Even though he or she uses all of his or her senses while behind the wheel, only one can function well at any given time.
Ideally, when driving, your eyes should stay focused on the road, as well as your mind. If you have a passenger in the car, you hear the “ping” of a notification on your smartphone, or you’re listening to a podcast, you are no longer completely focused on the road. Your mind is struggling to stay on task (the road). Sensors on self-driving cars must all be working, all the time.
Safety Features
Many of today’s newer models of cars have safety technology like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and collision avoidance to help drivers stay safer on the road. These features are designed to gently remind or even take control if the driver is distracted, has fallen asleep, or has looked away for a moment.
Even with some of these safety features, car accidents are occurring because drivers remain inattentive or reckless.
Self-driving cars are equipped with this same technology but rather than relying on intervention from the driver; they must work continuously and without interruption. Anything less, and a self-driving car would just be a car with a driver.
Infinite “Learning” Possibilities
It’s not that the average driver isn’t a good driver, but there’s only so much that a person can pay attention to when driving. Our brains are amazing machines, but they are no match to the “brains” of a self-driving car that continuously collects data and “learns” from every piece of information.
Self-driving cars are likely to be safer than a driver operated car because they have to be if they want to have a future on our roads. Even though “drivers” will be passengers in autonomous vehicles, the vehicle must run as if no one with any knowledge of driving is in the car.
