The adoption of autonomous vehicles (AV) is inevitable. Before we enter the era of the driverless car, however, we must first understand what we gain from this advancement, what the risks are, and how to regulate this unfamiliar territory.
The advantages of autonomous personal mobility
Fully autonomous vehicles will not depend on the alertness of their drivers to function. Today, a sleepy or distracted driver might cause a serious accident, but vehicles do not get tired or distracted — they focus only on the road, saving human lives in the process.
Infrastructure demands will change dramatically when cars can drop off their riders in one place, then head to distant parking lots until they are called. In addition, optimized driving will result in better fuel economy across the board, stretching the savings even further. Self-fueling vehicles could even contribute to a rise in acceptance of alternative energy sources.
The economic, social, and safety benefits hence present a powerful value proposition for this technology. Before they win the support of automotive companies and governments around the world, however, AVs must first overcome a few hurdles.
For the industry to mature and regulations to grow, consumers must understand how this evolving technology addresses their concerns about safety, reliability, privacy, and security. Those behind the scenes must provide consumers with transparent answers to their most pressing questions.
Ultimately, this means the industry must collaborate before individual players can compete. To advance the adoption curve and put safer, more reliable vehicles on the road, all involved parties — designers, manufacturers, and regulators — must work together.
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