There has been a debate over driverless cars for quite some time now. Many people are in favor of the technology, while others feel that it is not trustworthy. Of course, full self-driving cars are a while away from becoming mainstream. However, some companies are getting closer to bringing these more advanced options to the American market. Despite the distrust, this technology could enhance society in a few ways, including cutting down on car wrecks.
Driverless cars can aid the elderly
Many older adults never struggle with driving. Some have no issues with obeying road laws, maintaining safety, and keeping up with the flow of traffic. However, this isn’t always the case. In fact, a 2018 study from PR News Wire says that about 1 in 5 Americans over the age of 65 no longer drive. This means they have to find other means to get around.
Driverless cars could help many of these elderly adults who can no longer drive. This technology could help them regain their independence while also keeping them safe on the road. Of course, many people distrust self-driving cars, and this would also be true for the elderly community. However, those willing to adopt this technology and have the means to do so could benefit from it.
Self-driving cars could make the road safer
As mentioned, a relatively large number of people in the U.S. distrust driverless cars. However, they have the potential to enhance road safety. This is the case because most car wrecks result from driver behavior. There are many issues, including distracted driving and reckless driving, and, in general, some people aren’t great behind the wheel.
Driverless cars would lower this lack of safety due to user error. Of course, it means we’d have to have vehicles we trust with years of testing, but this is a solution to the number of collisions that happen. Naturally, these types of cars could present other issues, as is the case with new technology, but it could be a step in the right direction.
Less congestion
Cities all over the county experience massive traffic congestion, even in smaller cities with lower populations. However, using driverless cars could be a solution to get traffic moving more quickly. This improvement is partly because this technology could lower the number of crashes, which adds to traffic congestion.
Additionally, driverless cars can better maintain safe distances from other vehicles, which helps lower instances of stop-and-go traffic. People tend to hold up traffic by waiting too long at stop lights, which wouldn’t be as problematic with even a few people using driverless cars. This goes back to the idea that drivers’ habits negatively impact traffic.
Naturally, self-driving cars won’t fix the world’s traffic problems overnight. Additionally, even when they are more common, it’ll be a while before most people adopt them or have the means to. However, they can improve our society’s future in several notable ways.
