There is a lot of information in the world about automated driving and whether or not it is safe or dangerous. As is true of any type of driving, the answer lies somewhere in the middle. The question should not necessarily be, do automated driving assistance systems cause car accidents, but whether they cause more or fewer accidents than your typical vehicle. Take a look at some of the known issues with these systems and then contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 if you have been injured in an accident.
Drivers May Be Overconfident in These Systems
Even systems that are designed to completely take over driving are still supposed to be overseen by human drivers in the car. When a person is not paying attention to the road and the system has an error, an accident can occur. The answer to this is to ensure that those who are in charge are paying attention when using driving assistance. Automakers are looking for ways to improve the likelihood that they are.
These Systems Are Not Fully Tested
One of the main issues with these systems is that they have not been sufficiently tested. Yes, they have been tested on test courses but these cannot truly replicate city streets or highways. This is a catch-22 because they cannot be considered entirely safe until they have been tested in real-life situations, yet it is not safe to use them in real-life situations until they have been tested.
Their Priorities Are Not the Same as Yours
What happens if you are driving down the road and come across a situation that forces you to hit another car or hit a pedestrian? It is likely you will hit the vehicle because the chance of danger is much lower. Likewise, if you have a choice of hitting the back end of a car or a motorcycle face on, you will likely choose the car as the driver and passengers will have much more protection than the motorcycle.
Will the automated system be able to make the same decision? Or it will it hit the motorcycle simply because there are three people in the car and only one person on the motorcycle? What happens when the choice is for you to hit a school bus or drive off a bridge? You would likely slow as much as possible and hit the bus at the least dangerous place but the automated system may be more than happy to drive you off the bridge and sacrifice your life for the bus.
There Are Pros and Cons to These Systems
Does any of this mean that we do not like these systems? No. It means that we believe there are two sides to this coin that must be considered. If you have been the victim of any type of accident, we urge you to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas now at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
