The problem that can be solved by self driving cars is car crashes caused by human errors. Many car crashes in the US particularly, are a result of human error. Some by getting distracted by music or using the phone while others choose to be intoxicated while driving. This is a big problem because car crashes are deadly and many can lead to serious injuries or death. Also, many people who have jobs need to use cars to commute for transportation to places of work. Newer technology like self driving tech. can help decrease the amount of car crashes to keep people safe on the roads. This technology will affect the everyday person who drives or uses transportation to get from point A to point B. Studies have shown that 85% of all road accidents are a result of human error, and self driving technology will be the solution for the future.
Stronger drivers license requirements
One alternative solution to the problem of high rates of car accidents and fatality from car accidents is making stronger requirements to be able to earn a driver’s license. Currently, obtaining a driver’s license is fairly easy. During one’s driver’s test, it is not required to earn a perfect score in order to obtain a license. This means that someone could perform relatively poorly on one aspect of the overall test, such as proper turning, and still pass the test to receive a driver’s license. Likewise, some test sites are known for being more difficult and some much easier. The approach that some new drivers take in which they take the test at the easiest site that they can proves to be a danger to both themselves and other drivers on the road with them. Accordingly, young or new drivers are the most likely to be in a car accident, whether causing injury or death. To help solve the issue of high accident and mortality rates among human drivers’ error, stronger requirements should be implemented to ensure that drivers are more knowledgeable regarding driver safety and rules of the road.
Improved lighting/speed limits on roads
Another alternative solution to the high accident and mortality rates from human drivers’ error is the implementation of improved lighting and more cautious speed limits on roads. In an ideal world, drivers would always obey the speed limit, follow yield signs in which one stops if there is no opening, and stop at every stop sign or red light. However, reality exists in a much different state. Speeding has been relatively normalized and is almost expected. 65 mile per hour highways turn into 70 to 80 mile per hour roads, and so on. Because of this assumption that human drivers will inherently drive faster than the legal limit, a slower speed limit would be beneficial in order to curb road accidents and fatalities due to human error. Likewise, improved lighting, especially on long, expansive highways, would give drivers improved vision and improve their ability to assess the drivers and situation around them in order to change lanes, merge, and generally drive safely.
Moving Towards Service Driving
One last alternative solution to car crashes is committing to the service industry of driving. Companies like Uber and Lyft have helped save many lives from particularly drunk driving. This is very important because if someone is intoxicated or is driving with loud music on their phone, they are more likely to get distracted. This solution will help resolve this issue by relying on companies that have paid employees to drive people around. Someone who is paid to get passengers from point A to point B, is more likely to commit to safety than someone who is not. In doing this, it could boost sales for service driving companies and improve the experience offered by companies like for example Uber. If an Uber driver or Taxi driver gets in an accident or causes harm to the people in the car, it may result in a lawsuit and potential firing. This alternative competes with self driving car technology because it is already being used by millions of people today. Lots of people rely on these drivers to get around particularly cities and more urban areas. Also, companies like Uber have built brand loyalty and have saved a lot of people from driving drunk by having a sober driver drive them home from bars and restaurants.
Group B Blog: Automated Cars 