You’re driving down the highway, keeping an eye on the flow of traffic, when suddenly, a car ahead of you makes an erratic lane change. There’s no driver behind the wheel. Your heart skips a beat as you wonder—how reliable are these self-driving cars sharing the road with me? For many, this is a growing fear. While the promise of cutting-edge technology paints a picture of convenience and innovation, the reality can feel far less certain. A single malfunction or miscalculation could turn a marvel of engineering into a hazard, putting lives at risk. As exciting as the future of driverless cars may seem, it raises pressing questions: Can progress and safety truly go hand in hand?
There are several driverless car companies who are pushing to get their cars on the road, and all of them have faced federal investigations. Investigations into driverless cars have been building to the point that it’s clear the technology simply isn’t ready for the roads yet.
These companies are reportedly cooperating with NHTSA, and say they are committed to providing efficiency and safety within the technology.
Even autonomous car technology such as adaptive cruise control, automatic braking, and lane assist technology can be misused. When drivers, passengers, and car companies put too much faith in these technologies and relax behind the wheel, they can actually cause more accidents rather than less. AAA found that automatic braking fails over 40% of the time, and drivers who assume that they don’t need to pay attention to hazards can put themselves at serious risk. Drivers can become complacent when features are engaged and often fail to monitor the roads and conditions themselves. With drivers not realizing the risks associated with trusting the automated features, it raises concerns that fully driverless car technology can and will be misused.
Technological advancement cannot be stopped. Innovators are always pushing forward with the next possibilities, and progress should not be completely avoided. However, with any innovation, regulatory scrutiny is there to make sure that safety is always prioritized, from the introduction of antilock brakes, cruise control, and seatbelts, to the more advanced features like blind spot detection, electronic stability control, collision warning with automatic braking, and lane departure warnings. The road to full automation is ahead and the NHTSA is looking at all the possible risks, including the potential for systems to be hacked, safety overrides, and rigorous tests for many different scenarios these cars could face on the road. NHTSA indicates that it supports the Safe System Approach, which is a data-driven and holistic approach to roadway safety that validates the benefits of advancing technology while keeping roadways safe.
Whether or not fully driverless cars are technologically possible, the reality is that the public doesn’t fully trust them yet. There are several anecdotal reports by those who are working on the technology who refuse to use it yet, citing that they do not trust that it’s safe enough, which is enough for many Americans to want to pump the brakes. Many feel that until they can be sure that the cars are safe beyond a reasonable doubt, they won’t be buying any. Right now, AAA polls from 2024 show that less than 10% of Americans trust self-driving vehicles with close to 70% saying they fear driverless cars on the roads with them.
Even while these same drivers trust Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, such as automatic emergency braking, lane assistance, or reverse automatic braking, they are skeptical about a completely autonomous system. While some of this reluctance comes from the publicized incidents where vehicle technology has failed, such as the Waymo or GM accidents, some is simply from disbelief that technology has advanced to the point where it can support a true driverless vehicle. For these companies to move forward, they will need to focus on proving to the public that the technology can be trusted in addition to the vehicles having passed all regulatory testing.
Navigating the legal landscape of accidents involving driverless cars is a complex challenge. Traditional accident laws rely heavily on determining driver negligence, but when there’s no human driver, who’s held responsible? Questions arise about whether fault lies with the car’s manufacturer, the software developer, the owner of the vehicle, or even the company that sourced the technology.
Currently, laws surrounding self-driving car accidents vary by state and are still evolving to keep up with the rapid advancements in technology. Some jurisdictions place liability on the manufacturer if a defect in the vehicle’s design or software caused the accident, while others may examine the role of the vehicle owner in maintaining or operating the technology.
For victims, these complexities can make filing a claim or seeking compensation a daunting process. It’s essential to work with experienced car accident lawyers who understand both the technology and the emerging regulations surrounding autonomous vehicles. As lawmakers work to adapt to this new frontier, one thing remains clear: ensuring the safety and rights of everyone on the road must remain a top priority.
As technology continues to evolve, driverless cars represent a significant step toward the future of transportation. However, for many drivers, sharing the road with these vehicles remains a source of anxiety. The fear of accidents involving a car with no human behind the wheel is not unfounded, as such incidents can bring unique challenges for victims. While progress should be embraced, it must be paired with an unwavering commitment to safety. As driverless technology and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) continue to evolve, all drivers must remain vigilant and proactive. By balancing innovation with awareness, we can work toward a future where the roads are not only more advanced but also safer for everyone on them. If you’ve been seriously injured in an accident with a driverless vehicle, or as a result of a vehicle being operated in any sort of autonomous mode, contact Arthur Law Firm right away (419) 782-9881 for a free consultation.