Autonomous vehicles could prevent 35,000 deaths every year in the United States alone. But according to a recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, fully autonomous cars will still prevent only about one-third of vehicle crashes.
Why so few? Surprisingly, the answer isn’t solely technology – it has a human component as well. Researchers found that while autonomous vehicles can eliminate human error such as drunk driving and falling asleep at the wheel, they can’t prevent accidents caused by mechanical failures, excessive speed for conditions, or incorrect assumptions about what other drivers might do.
The study recommends that manufacturers should program autonomous vehicles to prioritize safety over speed and convenience. This might mean vehicles take longer to reach destinations, but as NHTSA statistics indicate, speed is a factor in approximately 26% of all traffic fatalities.
Meanwhile, companies like Waymo and Tesla continue to refine their autonomous driving systems. The race to fully autonomous vehicles isn’t just about technology – it’s about creating systems that can navigate the unpredictable reality of roads shared with human drivers.
