Self-Driving Cars: Is the Future in Safe Hands?

An invention stems from the necessity of creating a simpler way to do something. In 1885, the first gasoline powered automobiles replaced horse carriages. In 1903 – a mere 18 years after the first car – humanity took to the skies with the first ever plane. Soon, we may even see the first flying cars.

A Matter of Automation

The main issue these days surrounding land cars is a matter of convenience. Technology started blending in with cars, giving them onboard computers capable of many things.

During the latter half of this decade, electronic cars started to overtake regular cars in terms of popularity. GPS maps and getting directions are now easier than ever. Self-driving cars are also in the horizon – but should it?

Human vs Machine Error

The idea behind self-driving cars is simple enough. You input your destination, push a button, and your car starts begins the trek. This can potentially remove hassles such as driving permits, knowing the area, or even knowing how to drive. Using a self-driving car is basically hiring a cab – only this time the driver is an onboard computer.

An onboard computer making the decisions, in theory, can decrease roadside accidents. This can prevent issues such as being sleepy, drunk, or simply inept at the wheel from creating incidents while driving.

Reaction Time

So what is the problem here? Well, it all boils down to human vs machine intuition. A learned individual can make split-second decisions – a machine may not be able to do so. The programming of the car may also have glitches. It may veer off course, or unexpected obstacles such as jaywalkers, wild animals, or other cars may come up on the road. Will the car react accordingly – or even on time – to these events?

Can you really trust a car’s intuition over your own? What do you guys think?

16 thoughts on “Self-Driving Cars: Is the Future in Safe Hands?”

  1. Hmmm, I really don’t like how all this self-driving car stuff is sounding. I mean technology is good and all but to me it’s just making people even more lazy then society has already become. Plus like you said, a self-driving care could miss the split-second decision reaction time that a learned individual would have. I still believe that as powerful as machines and computers are, there’s just some things that always need (or should always require) human intervention and the utmost attention from humans. And driving is one of them.

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  2. There cannot be a definite answer to this but in my opinion YES!!! Why because research shows that the more a vehicle becomes advance the more reckless the driver will get. With that said may as well fully automate the whole thing. For those who still enjoys manual then just switch back to it. I do not suggest it though to be honest.

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  3. Well, we need to embrace technology. However, at start, the tech may be rusty and with much errors. But with time, we can see big improvement. It’s a matter of time these cars become almost like humans.

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  4. Well, I understand your fears about self-serving cars, but in life, everything is a risk but I will prefer a self-driving car since I will just relax and enjoy the journey.

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  5. A machine may not be able to make split seconds decision like man. Also there are local areas that might not show on the map making it difficult for the automated car to get to. this are some of what I think can be the limitations to this innovation. thanks

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  6. Bravo to the initiators of this great ideal. Rate of accidents will be reduced and controlled. Split control should be reviewed to work for both cases to balance the gaps.

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  7. Self driving cars are definitely cool. It may not be quite as polished as we may want it to be at present, but given time we will have more intuitive self driving cars that are much more safer and efficient than what we have now in the near future.

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  8. Cars have come such a long way with more and more technology being packed into them. Self driving cars are the next big thing without a doubt.

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  9. I feel like humanity should be careful with self driving cars. More research needs to be done into this to see how safe they truly are.

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  10. Autonomous cars are here to stay. Unlike humans, computers are more accurate and therefore we will eventually have safer roads with these new self driving cars.

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  11. Interesting concept, but I feel like it will just take the fun out of driving. Have we really become so dependent on technology that we can’t trust ourselves behind the wheel and need virtual assistants to figure everything out for us? I could see the results of self driving cars being very faulty as well especially in the early trial days. In my opinion, driving is a nice luxury and requires skill and alertness when done correctly.

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  12. Self-driving cars though enjoyable can be risky as you have stated there might not be able to avoid incident especially accidented ones.

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