CSA Online What’s so great about self-driving cars? Most of us have been getting from point A to point B just fine for most of our lives. So why do we need self-driving cars? What benefits could they bring? There are three big ones: Safer roads – statistics from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggest that a staggering 94% of all car crashes are caused by human error (driving too fast, ignoring traffic signs and signals, distracted driving and so on). With computers eliminating a good many of these “unforced errors,” we could see a dramatic reduction in crashes and injuries. Less congestion – Anyone who’s been stuck in a traffic jam knows that our current transportation system could stand a bit of improvement. Autonomous vehicles can access real-time road data to choose the most efficient route to a destination. That could take the pressure off of our most congested highways and byways and speed things up for everyone. Cleaner air – more efficient routes and less time idling in traffic jams could lead to a dramatic reduction of harmful tailpipe emissions in smogged-up cities. And of course, using less fuel could end up reducing the amount of CO2 pumped into our atmosphere. And what are the implications? For the past 120 years, Western societies have in no small part been structured around the automobile. Selfdriving cars could change all of that. Consider the following implications … … on transportation-related businesses: Over the next several years, robotaxis could put taxi drivers out of work; delivery drivers and truckers might be next after that. And with the potential for fewer accidents and reduced wear and tear on cars, we might not need as many mechanics or body repair shops as we have now. … on roads and infrastructure: Because self-driving cars can closely regulate their distance from each other, they don’t require the same kind of wide roads as we need now, creating more space for bikes and pedestrians. Traffic signals may become a thing of the past, because intelligent computers can control and optimize traffic with the aid of street-side sensors and transmitters. Even streetlights could be made obsolete, as cameras, sensors and radar systems can all “see” in the dark better than humans can. … on insurance and finance: One of the big benefits of self-driving cars is fewer accidents – with fewer accidents, insurance premiums could be headed lower. Or perhaps the very nature of vehicle insurance will change, and liability will shift from the driver (the current model) to the company that programs and maintains the vehicle itself. If the use of self-driving cars ends up reducing overall vehicle ownership (as it is predicted to do), that could free up several thousand dollars that the average family normally needs to spend on car payments and insurance for that minivan which sits in the driveway for most of the day. North American cities are, by and large, built around the automobile, with policies and zoning laws that favour continued use of cars. If we need less land dedicated to streets, overpasses and parking lots, we could radically re-think how we design our urban environment. Over time, that could reverse the effect of urban sprawl and free up a lot more affordable living space within urban areas. Despite the headlines and the hype, however, it will likely be several years before you see a car without a driver passing you on the highway. But it’s a trend worth keeping an eye on – if only in the rear-view mirror. CSANews | WINTER 2024 | 43
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