Some people in California are excited about the potential of self-driving cars in the future. Fully autonomous vehicles may eliminate human error and negligence from driving altogether, significantly reducing the number of serious car accidents. While the potential future of this technology is bright, reality has not yet caught up to this visionary future. For Americans aged 15-29, auto accidents are the most common cause of death. Each day, over 3,000 people are killed in motor vehicle accidents while many thousands more are severely injured. Some semi-autonomous safety technologies have been introduced in newer vehicles to make them safer on the roads.
However, experts warn that excessive reliance on these systems could actually lead to more car accidents, especially when distracted driving is a factor. Systems like adaptive cruise control and lane-change alerts may lull drivers into believing that their car is more autonomous than it really is. These types of advanced systems may make a driver’s job easier and safer, but they also require operators to be fully alert and engaged with the road ahead, especially if an emergency situation arises.
Distracted driving is a serious threat on American roadways. Thousands of people are killed or injured every year because of crashes when people text or surf the internet while driving. These activities not only take a driver’s attention and eyes away from the road, they also take a driver’s hands off the wheel. These drivers may then be poorly equipped to respond in case of an emergency or change in traffic ahead. The threat of distraction is just as serious for drivers using adaptive cruise control and semi-autonomous technology.
The costs of car accidents can be massive for the victims, including catastrophic injuries and permanent disabilities. A personal injury attorney may help car crash victims to seek compensation for their damages.
