Driving a car can be a liberating and fulfilling activity for many people. For some who are involved in driving jobs that require them to maneuver a vehicle for long distances, it can be a tiring activity.
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The good news is that the long wait for a car that can drive by itself is now over. Some car manufacturers have started creating this kind of intelligent vehicle and surveys have shown that consumers are open to buying it for their next vehicle.
Research Findings
The 2012 U.S. Automotive Emerging Technologies study conducted by J.D. Power & Associates revealed that 37 percent of vehicle owner said they are willing to buy a car with a self-driving system. Interestingly, the research found that many of those who are likely to adopt this autonomous driving system are the young consumers aged 18 to 37 (30 percent) and the males (25 percent).
But while there is an interest for this high-tech car, majority of drivers believe it is not yet a necessity to use it. Apart from the current legal restrictions and certain limitations, many still prefer to manually drive their vehicles which give them more pleasure.
As of this time, advanced features of cars that can drive on their own without human intervention include cruise control, GPS mapping as well as blind spot and lane-monitoring systems. Additionally, it is also able to follow speed limits, maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead based on the driver’s chosen speed chosen and even slow down its speed as it enters a curve.
Google’s Self-Driving Car
An engineer of Google’s Self-Driving Car program Chris Urmson, on the other hand, believes that the technology for their autonomous vehicle will be released in three to five years’ time. The issue, however, is the timeframe for the release of the car itself in the market. Reports say this may take up to seven years particularly as Google is not really into car manufacturing.
Google has already its own version of driver-free car that can sense its surroundings including pedestrians and stoplights.
What makes it unique from the others is its ability to see 360 degrees around. Its other advantage is its ability to better use road space which experts believe will eventually enable autonomous vehicles to cruise safely closer together on roads thereby improving traffic flow and reducing travel times.
Google officials also believe their self-driving cars should be able to avail of lower insurance rates owing to its advanced technologies. Regardless, it is always the responsibility of car owners to obtain the appropriate coverage for their vehicle. Using car insurance comparison websites is the best way to know about the best deals available.