Self-Driving Cars to Overcome Dangers of Technology, Human Error

Much has been written about the self-driving cars that have recently been made legal in the state of California. What you may not know is that they have logged more than 250,000 driving miles…without a single incident.

That’s right; a perfect record.

Maybe like me, you were wary of the self-driving car at first. But, I was convinced of their inherent good and benefit to society when someone pointed out how they can give independence to people with disabilities and the elderly.

This article points out how the self-driving car can save those of us who willingly disable ourselves while we drive…with technology. We all know we do it: text, talk on the phone, check our emails on our phone, etc. If it’s not you, then it’s someone in a car around you, which could easily make you a statistic.

The self-driving car technology could save us from…our use of technology while we drive.

Imagine being able to tell your self-driving car to drive you home while you typed away at all those emails you didn’t get sent while in the office? Sounds dreamy, right?

“Oh, I’d totally get a self-driving car,” said Roger Herbaugh of the Seattle area. “I’d consider myself an early adopter and I work a lot out of my car, so it’d be nice to be able to do more worker safer as I traveled from client to client.”

The self-driving car can also save us from ourselves.

Imagine being able to tell your car to take you home after you’ve had one too many drinks or are so sleepy you could make a mistake? Self-driving cars could not only be independence-giving and convenient, they could also be life-saving.

“I’m not so sure about the technology right now,” said Douglas Harrington of Shoreline. “I did, however, just drive back from Eastern Washington after the Apple Cup and that’s a lot of boring road, so it would be nice to be able to put the car on a kind of autopilot. I was pretty tired after that Cougar victory, but I’m still not sure I’d feel comfortable sleeping while my car drove itself.”

This paragraph from the article sums up the issue nicely:

“Pioneers in the field estimate that driverless cars could save a substantial number of lives each year. These cars are immune to distractions caused by talking on cell phones, texting and checking emails, eating and drinking, grooming and shaving, reading and writing, watching TV or a video, adjusting the radio or CD player, checking the navigation system, watching the scenery, putting on make-up, fighting with passengers and disciplining children. They are also not impaired by alcohol, drugs, sleep deprivation and anger. They can react instantaneously and accurately. They always maintain the lane, use turn signals and never tailgate. They always respect red lights or stop signs. They keep detailed logs. They always remind you way before the time for refueling and maintenance service.”

What do you think? Are these arguments enough for you to jump behind the wheel of a self-driving car? What would it take to get you there?