The numbers are out, and it seems that autonomous cars might have the upper hand when it comes to road accidents. According to Tesla, the car is more likely to get into a road accident when Autopilot is not engaged than when it is engaged. But it will still make mistakes.
The report reveals that there was one accident for every 2.87 million miles driven. While not foolproof, it's still statistically better than the one in 1.58 million miles with Autopilot disengaged. Technology is paving the way for better road safety, and the autonomous car is just the start.
Collision Detection Creates A Safety Net
High traffic situations call for high levels of alertness from drivers, but sudden changes in traffic can cause a delay in response, which often leads to a collision. 35% of drivers credit the collision control tech in their car for the prevention of road accidents. This also includes automatic braking.
Driver assistance technology provides that extra layer of safety for cars and pedestrians on the road. While not all the driver-assist features are available in all models, manufacturers are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of including it in new models - even entry-level cars.
Autonomous Tech Still In Early Days
While it's a no-brainer that tech can bring forth many changes in the motor industry that could enhance road safety, it's not necessarily completely without liability. Car owners and manufacturers will still have risk and liability, as the risk won't disappear - it will merely be reapportioned. This might still necessitate the need for an accident lawyer, a spinal injury lawyer or an insurance expert, as electronic malfunctions, miscalculations, and events that even AI can't safely detect might still crop up.
In fact, it's still early days for the tech to be foolproof. With the expansion of the tech into other parts of the infrastructure, however, the potential loss of life or injury might reduce drastically. Factors that could influence this include expanding the technology into more cars, wearables and infrastructure in order to encourage better communication.
Rear Technology That Makes A Difference
It's not always possible to see what's happening behind the car when you're already in it. Backup cameras might have been a feature on bigger vehicles before, but since 2018, federal law requires passenger cars, trucks and vans under 10,000 pounds to have this technology as well. The combination of rear cameras and rear collision warning systems allow better peace of mind for drivers and higher safety ratings all around.
Car tech is evolving and improving every day to make the roads safer. Drivers are still required to be alert, as the technology is entirely foolproof, and alertness is still the best defense against road accidents.
