It’s hard to grasp that we’re already living in a world with self-driving cars. Not too long ago, that would have been a thing of pure fantasy… and yet here we are. Google and others have poured big bucks into developing the new technology, which they say could redefine transportation in just a few decades’ time.
People are nervous about self-driving cars, though. That’s understandable. Sci-fi flicks and dystopian novels have firmly entrenched in us a fear of automation. As it turns out, though, the safety stats aren’t too shabby.
The Los Angeles Times reports that 50 self-driving cars have been in testing since September in California. Of those, only four have crashed. And guess what? The human driver was to blame each time.
“How can it be the driver’s fault?” you might ask. After all, the whole point of the self-driving car is that it drives itself! There are moments, though, when the car needs to surrender control back to the human. That’s where the problems come in.
Lulled into complacency by long periods of relaxation behind the wheel, drivers are apparently unprepared to spring into action at a moment’s notice. Those crucial moments of transition become potential crises, then, and that’s where the accidents occur.
Of course, one might argue that if the cars can’t handle the transition safely, then a different group of humans is to blame — not the drivers but the designers! To that end, Google and its cohorts are hard at work on improvements that might solve the problem for the future.
As Phoenix, Arizona car accident lawyers, we’re watching the phenomenon of the self-driving car with wide-eyed interest. Whether they’ll ultimately make for safer or more dangerous roads remains to be seen.
In the meantime, most of us are using traditional automobiles, and where those are concerned, driver negligence remains the leading cause of traffic accidents and deaths.
If you or a loved one has suffered injury or death in a car crash in Phoenix, our office can help. We offer free consultations and contingency fees, meaning you won’t pay a dime for our services unless you win.
Give us a call today to learn more about how we can fight for your rights and maximize your compensation under the law.
