Essay On Autonomous Drivers

When we think of cars, we usually think of vehicles that must have an operator to propel them, but that might change in the near future, as cars increasingly become autonomous. There is substantial evidence proving their usefulness for drivers, the most significant of which is considerably cutting down the number of automobile accidents. However, great technology comes at a big price, and there is no guarantee that the technology will suffice to replace people as the driver. Among all the opinions about this new phenomenon, one thing is certain: these technologically advanced cars will change driving as we know it forever. There are many differing viewpoints as to when exactly fully autonomous vehicles will hit the roads, but most studies

First, technologies that autonomous cars require are expensive, and are unaffordable to many people; “Dellenback estimates that most current civilian and military AV applications cost over $100,000,” (Fagnant and Kockelman 12). This highly advanced technology could increase, “annualized costs $1,000 to $3,000 per vehicle,” (Litman 5). Unexpected events happen, and creating a system that can function safely in any situation requires a lot of technology. For example, autonomous vehicles need to recognize a potential roadblock and react safely, “recognition of humans in the roadway and object materials is both critical and more difficult for AVs than human drivers,” (Fagnant and Kockelman 4). AVs reduce the need for parking, which is bad for the government considering parking is one of the main sources of income for many cities. Public transportation could also take a major hit with AVs prevailing. One of the highlights of public transportation is the ability to engage in leisurely activities such as reading or using a smartphone; if AVs allow these activities, the use of public transportation could significantly go down. Many jobs could be lost by the reduction in the use of public transport. The commercial transportation sector employs many people, “it is likely that AV technology will eventually lead to the loss of commercial transportation sector jobs at considerable human costs,” (Anderson et al. 39). AVs would replace the need for a human person driving, resulting in huge job losses. A Columbia University study found that “a fleet of 9,000 autonomous vehicles could replace all 13,000 taxis in New York” (If Autonomous Vehicles Rule the World From Horseless to Driverless). AVs could also cause major liability issues. For example, usually car crashes only result in minor injuries. Even if AV technology were to end