The self-driving car is an idea that Google has apparently been working on for quite some time now. The company strongly believes that the next big thing is for automobiles to neither have a steering wheel or pedals. Currently Google does not have the technology nor solution to the perfect self-driving car, but in ten or so years and the advancement of technology, the idea is likely to become a real possibility for many. That is, if they find a way around the legal and regulatory challenges imposed on their design.
There are many pros and cons to this idea. For example, having self-driving cars will give Google access a market that many car producers could not reach before: people who dislike driving and those with disabilities. For the first time, those visually impaired will be given the opportunity to have their own car amongst other people with disabilities. It can also be more sustainable by being more fuel efficient for drivers and lastly, people will be able to do other things during the commutes instead of focusing on the road. Self-driving cars should definitely be a viable option in the future.
Along with the benefits of this idea, Google and other self-driving car manufacturers will have difficulty convincing most standard vehicle consumers to switch over to self-driving cars. With the elimination of the driver, many consumers will be anxious about the safety performance of such vehicles. There is the possibility that if self-driving cars take over the car market, there will be minimal amounts of automobile accidents because everything is controlled by computers and software. Intoxicated drivers will no longer have to worry because they are now getting driven on their own. However, I think that it is unlikely that self-driving cars will take over the car market because there are currently many people who enjoy driving and appreciate the customization of their driving experience, such as those who prefer driving standard over automatic. The mix of both self-driving and normal cars will make it difficult for manufacturers to produce the technology to predict each circumstance, and so accidents will continue to occur until we are able to move towards a completely self-driving world.
Markoff, John. “Google’s Next Phase in Driverless Cars: No Steering Wheel or Brake Pedals.” The New York Times.
The New York Times, 27 May 2014. Web. 21 Sept. 2014.
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