Google self-driving cars – futuristic fix for unsafe driving?

Human beings are terrible drivers. We are easily distracted, second guess our decisions, have slow reflexes, take unnecessary risks, and suffer with exhaustion and fatigue – human beings are incredibly prone to unsafe driving. Google’s self-driving cars have been celebrated by some as a way to reduce the 1.4 million deaths worldwide per year and the many, many more injuries caused by car accidents due to unsafe driving.  But is the celebration premature?

The Google cars use 3D laser mapping, GPS, and radar to anticipate and track hundreds of external objects, in all directions, at once. The self-driving cars are currently being tested by Google and are driving about 10,000 miles per year, which amounts to what a typical North American might drive in a full year. These Google cars have been involved in 14 collisions since the start of the project in 2009, with all 14 of those collisions being caused by human error, typically the errors of other drivers on the road.

Although the technology is impressive, the cars are not quite ready for general use. The cars still struggle with rain, for example, as the lasers bounce of shiny surfaces. However, once the first drop of rain hits the car, a warning announces that auto-drive will soon disengage. The cars also can’t follow hand signals or hear traffic whistles. Google insists that these are simply minor glitches that will soon be resolved.

Critics of the cars insist that, as computers, self-driving cars do not possess discretion, a trait essential to safe driving. For example, although crossing a double yellow line is prohibited, to avoid causing a collision it may be the safest course of action. Good judgment may legitimately compel us to break the law to reduce harm, but could driver-less cars exercise such dynamic judgment?

If you are injured in a motor vehicle accident, where a driver-less car is involved or otherwise, contact experienced personal injury lawyers at League and Williams Law Corporation.  We may be contacted at 250-888-0002 or via email at info@leaguelaw.com.