You may be looking forward to a time when you won’t have to worry about car crashes. You may be hopeful that fully autonomous vehicles are the answer to preventing accidents, injuries and deaths.
Unfortunately, even without human error, there is still going to be a risk of getting hurt on the roads. A study has found that autonomous vehicles may reduce crashes significantly, but they may not be able to prevent all collisions.
In around 94% of cases, humans are the cause of collisions. Autonomous vehicles may only decrease that number by around a third, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
It’s true that these robotic vehicles will be able to react to hazards faster than a human could. They also won’t be able to be intoxicated or distracted. That doesn’t mean that they’re perfect. They won’t be able to stop instantaneously. They may have trouble with predicting how fast another vehicle is moving or could drive too fast for the conditions of the road. Even execution errors, like failing to stop or stopping when it’s unnecessary, could lead to collisions.
That’s not to say that these vehicles won’t be helpful. They will be able to help significantly cut down on injuries and loss of life. Unfortunately, they won’t be the final solution. There are too many variables for a simple computer program to account for.
Autonomous vehicles may be the way of the future, but for now, human error still plays a significant role in the crashes that take place. If you’re hit, remember that you can pursue a claim in hold the driver accountable.
