What was once wishful thinking from frustrated people caught behind slow drivers in the fast lane is now a reality. Self driving cars are here! Well sort of. Prototype self driving cars are on the road in limited numbers today, though they still have designated safety operators behind the wheel in case anything goes wrong. Despite this, people are able to ride around in a car that is entirely autonomous, and this is just the start. These cars are on the road in American cities like Phoenix, Arizona, but it is only a matter of time before we see self driving cars in Canada.
Why Self Driving Cars
Introducing self driving cars in Canada and throughout the rest of the world makes a lot of sense when we consider the amount of fatalities and collisions that occur on roads each year. There are over 2000 deaths on the road each year in Canada alone, and a staggering 36,000 in the United States. With self driving cars, people might think the possibilities for accidents will rise, but the opposite is true. In fact, self driving cars in Canada and elsewhere will contribute to a decline in road collisions and fatalities thanks to enhanced sensors and devices like laser driven lidar guided by artificial intelligence. These components of a self driving car far outstrip the sense and reaction capabilities of a human behind the wheel.
Less Gridlock
The dreams of frustrated drivers everywhere will come true in a world with driverless cars. Thanks to their ability to travel closer together at consistent speeds without braking, self driving cars will contribute to a major reduction in gridlock and traffic jams. Drivers who brake on the highway will be a thing of the past, and the issues that lead to traffic jams, frustration and even road rage will be massively reduced.
Insurance Requirements
Despite the reduction in collisions and traffic issues, the possibility for problems to occur on and off the road with self driving cars is still there. Most experts agree that self driving cars in Canada and the rest of North America will be subject to a different classification for insurance. Autonomous vehicles are far less likely to be involved in any issues however, which is why the associated insurance premiums will likely be far less than traditional vehicles.
Other Autonomous Vehicles?
Manufacturers have begun developing self driving vehicles other than cars. News states that, Bosch in particular envisions a 40 tonne transport truck on the road by 2025 which will be fully autonomous. That could revolutionize the way we ship goods throughout the continent.
In the meantime, we will have to wait for the technology behind self driving cars to catch up with the requirements for safety and convenience that are already in place. The exciting news is that manufacturers aren’t far from putting real self driving cars on Canadian roads in the not too distant future. If you are looking for Vancouver Auto body Shop, please contact Grand City Auto Body Shop.