Each year, new advancements are made in vehicle safety technology. As we get closer to creating fully-autonomous cars, we need to ask ourselves if technology truly is the solution to eliminating human error on the road. We've long been aware that car accidents are some of the leading causes of death in the country. Distracted driving, driving under the influence, faulty car parts are some of the most common causes of these accidents, but the common denominator among these accidents is the element of human error.
Naturally, we're going to want to eliminate the element of human error in order to reduce the risks of an accident. The question we need to ask is whether we should completely rely on the slew of driver assist technologies for our safety and that of other motorists.
Technology Is Prone to Failure
Cars are composed of thousands of parts, and any part that fails may affect the proper functioning of the car. If all cars were completely reliable, we wouldn't have reliability scores that show how well cars hold up over time. This is without considering the effects of wear and tear on the car. When we factor wear and tear, it presents a higher risk that these parts could eventually fail.
There is a danger in completely relying on vehicle safety measures. There is a risk that these measures could fail. The harrowing question is what happens when these technologies fail?
Self-Driving Car Fatality
The first fatal accident that involved a self-driving car happened in 2016 when the sensors on a Model S failed to detect an 18-wheel truck that was crossing the highway. The Model S drove straight into the truck at full speed. The collision killed the driver in the Tesla.
Even when technology has since significantly improved, we're still a long way off from being able to allow self-driving cars on the road. This is because much of the technologies that are needed to make self-driving cars function properly aren't yet available on consumer markets. Artificial intelligence, 5G and the Internet of Things are necessary technologies that are going to enable self-driving cars to process data and to make the necessary pathing adjustments in light of this data.
Should We Disregard the Technological Advancements Companies Have Achieved?
While we're still a long way from the mass use of self-driving cars, they are indeed the best solution to eliminating the element of human error, given enough time and refinement to their algorithms and design. There's also the question of how the law is going to regulate the use of self-driving cars. Again, technologies are prone to failure, and given the complexity of such a scenario, you're better off leaving the legalities to experts like this car accident lawyer Tampa. However, until that time comes, complete reliance on vehicle safety technologies may be putting more lifes at risk instead of saving them.
Instead of encouraging complacence on the road, we should instead encourage proper driving habits and the adherence of road safety rules. Safety technologies are undoubtedly useful, but in the grand scheme of things, drivers are still the primary factor that decides whether you make it to your destination safely.
