Are you on autopilot?

Driverless vehicles are fast becoming a real possibility, but does the concept seem a bit daunting? I guess it just takes a leap of faith to put your safety directly into the hands of technology. We do this already when we fly but I guess we know there is always the captain who can intervene if necessary. What are the benefits for self-driving cars?

According to the figures, 93% of road traffic collisions are caused by human errors so are we foolish to put such faith in ourselves? It is estimated that by 2030, driverless vehicles could save 2,500 lives. With the ability to manage traffic more effectively, congestion can be reduced so travel time is also reduced. It could also mean better access for emergency vehicles and a faster response time. Of course, the roads will also be safer for tourists and cyclists.

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These vehicles could help the aging population as well as there are currently more than 1 million people over the age of 80. They may not be the most secure behind the wheel and driverless vehicles could greatly increase their independence and enable mobility that would otherwise be restricted. Fewer road accidents will also mean insurance costs could go down. Until our roads are full of autonomous vehicles, we will still need to book our yearly MOTs. For an MOT Gloucester, visit a site like http://swiftfit.uk.com/

While we are happy to use assistive technology in our vehicles such as cruise control, parking assist or collision detection, we remain sceptical about taking the next step to fully autonomous cars. We as humans tend to trust ourselves more, even when it is clear that we are causing most of the problems. Accidents will happen under the control of technology as machines can malfunction and when this occurs, will it more unexpected and surprising?

Another fear is the risk of cyber-attacks and the impact this could have on the safety of passengers and the impact on the network and congestion situation. A strong security system will be important because there will be a lot of passing of data from sensors on the vehicle to other vehicles, as well as a central command system.

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Will there be a big enough appetite for buying a car that you will never drive? Driving is an experience and a lot of people enjoy the activity. The purchase and rental of cars, despite the economic downturn have continued to increase in recent years. Will drivers embrace the change or buck the encroaching of this new technology designed to keep us safer on the roads?

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