Self-Driving Cars Could Have More Dangers than Expected

While the technology promises even more safety on the roads and claims to be more efficient than the average human driver, many are downplaying the possible dangers that can be associated with self-driving vehicles. No technology is perfect, and we can expect people to exploit the vulnerabilities of the first autonomous vehicles to hit the road. Then there are the legal and ethical implications of said vehicles and how they’ll have to be monitored and regulated. Let’s take a closer look at the possible dangers of self-driving vehicles and how they could actually affect your rights as a driver.

Royalty Free Photo

The Possible Dangers of Autonomous Driving Vehicles

One of the major issues with self-driving cars is how new the technology is and how little is known right now. This leaves the industry largely unregulated. To this date, we still don’t have enough data to set real security standards. While this may sound great for companies, it surely isn’t for customers.

Then there’s the real risk of accidents involving autonomous and manual vehicles, and all the regulation around it. For instance, these types of vehicles may not have the intelligence needed to navigate through extreme weather, or may not be able to deal with dense, hectic traffic patterns. At the time of writing, states like California have clear guidelines for accidents that involve semi-assisted driving vehicles, but still nothing on fully autonomous vehicles.

If you were involved in an accident with a semi-autonomous vehicle, however, it would be wise to consider consulting a qualified car accident attorney in your area to help you make sense of the situation. The same goes if you were involved in a ridesharing accident. These cases differ in many ways from regular accidents, and only an experienced car accident lawyer will be able to understand their intricacies and make sure that the right parties are held accountable.

The Real Risks of Hacking

Proponents of self-driving cars often minimize the risks of hacking and technical malfunctions, but they’re just as much in the dark as the rest of the population. We just never know to what extent these vehicles will be vulnerable to attacks.

At the end of the day, these vehicles will need to be connected to a network of some kind when in operation, which provides an entry point for malicious attacks. Then there’s the massive amount of information these vehicles will be gathering and how they could be used by businesses, insurance companies, and even state agencies.

A Danger to Our Rights

Others interpret self-driving vehicles as a direct violation of their rights. Some even fear that these vehicles could be used to limit or even compel movement.

Imagine your vehicle automatically pulling over when a cop flashes you. Or the authorities being able to stop or take control of your vehicle at any moment’s notice? These fears might be outlandish to some but have to be considered as well. 

Conclusion

While self-driving technology does seem promising and could have its benefits, it’s also important for lawmakers and the industry to understand the risks associated with them and work on stronger regulation to address them.