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Sep
Once just a distant dream, self-driving cars are fast becoming a part of our reality. As the technology around self-driving cars is developed and attuned, more people are becoming interested in understanding exactly what self-driving cars will mean for the future of road travel.
In this guide, we explore how self-driving cars work, when we can expect them to be used on our roads and the pros and cons that autonomous vehicles can bring to transportation.
What is a self-driving car?
A self-driving, or driverless, car is a vehicle that is fully-automated, meaning it can undertake journeys without needing a human to operate it. Self-driving vehicles use technology and artificial intelligence to navigate the road and monitor the environment in order to complete journeys safely.
How do self-driving cars work?
Self-driving cars use a combination of cameras and sensors to continuously monitor the surroundings, providing data similar to what a human driver might see. In addition, self-driving cars also use radar to detect how far away an object is and how fast it’s going.
The data from these sensors are transmitted to the onboard computer, where AI is used to identify and categorise objects. The AI will then calculate the predicted movements of the object and make appropriate decisions for the car’s movement. This includes planning the best route to avoid obstacles whilst keeping to traffic laws, factoring speed and steering for smooth, safe driving.
The car then uses technology to execute these decisions, increasing speed, braking, and steering as needed. These decisions and implementations are done in real time and continuously adjusted as new information is detected.
Self-driving cars utilise machine learning to develop and improve how it makes decisions. Algorithms are used to process vast amounts of data, allowing the car to improve its ability to recognise objects, predict how they will behave, and make the best decisions. This type of machine learning means the car should become better at handling more and more complex driving situations as time goes on.
Does the UK have self-driving cars?
There are multiple levels of self-driving cars, ranging from partial automation, which includes technology such as automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane assistance, to full automation. Many cars already have some level of partial automation, but these require the driver to still be engaged with their surroundings and in primary control of the car.
Fully autonomous vehicles are not yet available in the UK. However, the UK government is putting significant investment and resources into self-driving cars, aiming to be a pioneer in the field. The current plan is to allow fully self-driving cars on the road by 2025, although testing is still ongoing to ensure vehicles are safe and compliant.
There is scope to see lower levels of automation before that. This could include cars that drive automatically but require a human to be on board, or cars that can drive automatically in most circumstances but would need a human to take over in others, such as on the motorway.
What are the benefits of self-driving cars?
There are numerous benefits of self-driving cars, from safety features to environmental.
Improved safety
One of the main benefits of self-driving cars is that they can result in improved road safety. This is because they reduce human error, which is one of the leading causes of road accidents. Unlike humans, the AI and computer system won’t get distracted, tired, or impaired whilst driving, meaning it will always fully focus on its surroundings and making safe driving decisions.
Self-driving cars will also always stick to the traffic rules. This means these vehicles won’t ever speed, run red lights, or undertake aggressive driving styles, which will lead to improved safety for all road users.
Increased accessibility
Self-driving cars can make road travel much more accessible for many more people, including elderly people and disabled people. Some people might not be able to drive themselves, so a fully autonomous vehicle would mean they could still travel independently, without having to rely on others or on public transport. This could result in increased freedoms for many people, offering greater mobility and access.
Better driving experience
Whilst many people love the act of driving, for others it can be a chore. Self-driving cars can make journeys much more convenient for people, taking away the need to focus on the road so they can do other things, whether that be for work, rest or leisure time. Autonomous vehicles would mean people no longer have to navigate busy roads or deal with the stress of sitting in traffic jams, instead letting technology do the hard work.
Positive environmental impacts
Self-driving cars could have a number of environmental benefits. For one, autonomous vehicles are typically electric vehicles, so an increase in self-driving cars could mean fewer combustion engines and fewer emissions.
In addition, self-driving cars will typically adopt more fuel-efficient behaviours, such as accelerating smoothly and braking carefully. This will mean less fuel is used, ultimately resulting in fewer emissions.
What are the downsides of self-driving cars?
There are also some possible disadvantages to self-driving cars.
Safety concerns
Whilst, in theory, self-driving cars could be safer because they remove human error, they’re not yet foolproof. There are still some complex situations in which the AI of a self-driving car might not be able to calculate the actions needed for the best results, which could result in accidents. Development is still ongoing to ensure the technology is robust and can always make the right, safest, decision.
Job losses
If autonomous vehicles become widespread, this could lead to significant job losses. Many roles, such as taxi drivers, bus drivers, and delivery drivers could be replaced by technology, leaving thousands of people out of work. There could be further impacts on employment to related sectors, such as vehicle maintenance, insurance and roadside services, leading to more economic challenges as people need to retrain and find alternative employment in a new industry.
Security risks
Self-driving cars rely on technology and are therefore vulnerable to hacking. Cyber attacks could compromise both safety and privacy of people in the vehicle and other road users. Hackers could potentially gain control of a vehicle, making it unsafe for those inside the vehicle and others on the road, and this could even make theft easier. In addition, self-driving vehicles collect a lot of data, including location and personal information of the owner. There is a possibility of all of this being accessed by hackers, leading to privacy violations and even identity theft.
High cost
The technology used for self-driving cars is currently very expensive. Buying a self-driving car would be out of reach for the average consumer, which could exacerbate issues of accessibility in transportation. This disparity in access to self-driving cars could mean that widespread adoption takes a while to come through, instead making autonomous vehicles a rarity.
Liability and legal issues
As self-driving cars are still being developed and understood, it is not yet known how liability in accidents involving self-driving cars will be attributed. If an autonomous vehicle caused an accident, would it be the manufacturer, the owner, or the software developer who would be at fault? It would be a complicated process to incorporate self-driving cars into the legalities around car accidents and liability.
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