Making the Roadways Safer
Speculation has circulated for decades about how to make roadways safer, ever since the first car crash to the pile-ups we fear today. With the close proximity of cars, the road conditions, distractions, and a variety of other factors, crashes will never be eliminated completely. However, they can be reduced, as can the number of injuries and fatalities.
One theory about making the roadways safer has come from a unique source, Google. Google is leading a project for the development of a self-driving car. Many believe that a self-driving car would not only help create safer roadways but also provide a means of transportation to the blind or handicapped who cannot operate a vehicle alone.
The Cons of a Self-Driving Car
Before we tell you just how these self-driving cars are making lives better, let’s a take a look at a few concerns that have been brought up in the media.
● Extra Training - Operating a self-driving car wouldn’t eliminate the need for learning how to drive; it would supplement it. Drivers would still need to understand how to drive in case they had to take over, and they would also need to understand how to operate the autonomous system to keep it functional.
● Cost - The new technology, software, and sensors to run a self-driving car currently costs around $100,000. That’s a price tag out of range for most consumers.
● Drivers Remain - Even if a few thousand drivers bought an autonomous vehicle, there remain many more drivers without a computer pilot. This means that while safe driving would increase, it would only be fractional.
● Transportation Job Decrease - The number of taxi, bus, and shuttle drivers would decrease due to lack of need. Thus, the unemployment rate would increase.
● Technology Unreliable - Currently, these self-driving cars have no way to interpret human traffic signals. The technology also becomes less reliable in heavy rain.
The Pros of a Self-Driving Car
Self-driving cars are an invention in the making. They may not be perfect, but they represent the potential for something amazing. The pros include:
● Safety - Of course, the biggest pro of self-driving cars is the increased safety. Since 81% of car accidents are the result of human error, the autonomous vehicle takes a lot of danger off of the street.
● Insurance - If the risk of an accident is considerably decreased, car insurance would also potentially decrease.
● Multitasking - When you’re rushing to work and want a sip of coffee or taking a road trip and grabbing a bite to eat, you can let the car do the work without compromising safety!
● Reduce Congestion and Pollution - Where a human can’t anticipate traffic flow and speed, a computer can. Self-driving cars would reduce road congestion and commute times. Because cars wouldn’t idle as much on the road, they would also reduce carbon emissions.
A Self-Driving Car is Like an Experienced, Focused Driver
Essentially, a self-driving car takes advantage of the same technology that distracts many drivers and turns it around to help keep drivers safer. An autonomous car cannot be distracted. It can react more quickly than a human and make the best decisions about how to respond to complex situations. In that way, a self-driving car is like an experienced, focused driver.
If you aren’t quite ready or able to take a self-driving car out for a spin, consider another kind of experienced, focused driver. Unparalleled Parking valet drivers are the best in the business. With advanced training, extensive background checks, and years on the road, they are drivers you can count on to get you where you need to go or take care of your vehicle while you’re away.
For more information on Unparalleled Parking valet services or questions regarding our driving and parking procedures, call (651) 300-1515.