Less driver error
There are a ton of pros to self-driving cars, and the first one is that many companies are pouring tons of resources into making them safe. Here’s why it might be worth your time to wait until they become available:
- Self-driving cars will reduce driver error, which reduces accidents and deaths.
- They’ll increase safety for passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers.
- They’ll cut down on travel times.
- They’ll ease traffic congestion.
More efficient driving
Self-driving cars have the potential to change how much fuel we use on a daily basis. By optimizing speed and braking, self-driving cars can keep a safe distance from other vehicles while traveling at the highest possible speed. This can save motorists money in gas consumption and allow them to travel further distances than they could with manual driving.
In addition, self-driving cars can drive in a more efficient manner than humans by using lane-change assist and predictive emergency braking systems. These systems will help prevent accidents as well as reduce traffic congestion because they allow drivers to respond faster when faced with unexpected obstacles or conditions on the road
Less distracted driving
If you want the full safety benefits of self-driving cars, there’s a small price to pay: being less distracted while driving.
Having your car drive for you means you won’t be texting and driving, eating and driving, or putting on lipstick and driving. You’re no longer occupied with trying to squeeze every last ounce of productivity out of your commute time by checking emails while getting to work.
In other words, if self-driving cars ever take over, they really take over—so make sure you’re comfortable giving up more control than just not needing to steer!
More efficient traffic flow
As more cars become self-driving, they will be able to better and more safely coordinate traffic flow. This means that traffic can flow with less congestion and at higher speeds than today. It also means that fewer lanes or highways will have to be built. Self-driving cars will be able to take advantage of all roadways, and drive closer to each other in a way that humans cannot. When combined with other innovations, such as carpooling, there could be a drastic drop in the number of cars on the road, leading to much more efficient traffic flow.
Automated braking
It’s not just about you. Some of the most helpful features are those that apply to other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians on the road. It’s called automated braking, and it can be a lifesaver for everyone involved. Vehicles will physically stop themselves when they sense an impending collision with another person or vehicle. You don’t need to take your hands off the wheel—the car is equipped with sensors that do all this automatically.
So if someone runs out into the street in front of you, your self-driving car will know and avoid hitting them. If a deer jumps out in front of you as you’re driving down a curvy mountain road at night, guess who’s got your back? The same goes for another car that suddenly swerves into your lane or tries to cut you off on the highway. With automated braking, these dangerous situations are less likely to cause accidents—and even if they do happen anyway, at least both vehicles will be traveling at lower speeds when they collide!
Vehicle-to-vehicle communication
Vehicle-to-vehicle communication, or V2V, means that cars can talk to each other and exchange data about their speed, position, and direction. This information can be used to predict collisions and warn drivers about upcoming dangers. It could also be used to coordinate traffic flow over roadways: for example, merging into the same lane would not be a selfish act if you were aware that it would reduce congestion behind you. Furthermore, vehicles equipped with V2V are able to relay information from one another to roadside sensors (vehicle-to-infrastructure communication), further expanding the system’s capabilities.
Enhanced exterior lighting
If you’ve driven at night, you already know that standard headlights can be improved. Especially now that we have computer-smart vehicles, the lighting can be a lot more sophisticated.
As with any technology, there are benefits and drawbacks to enhanced exterior lighting. Here are some points from each perspective:
Pros: LEDs last longer and illuminate better. A typical LED headlight lasts about 50,000 hours; halogen bulbs last about 1,000 hours. Some LEDs even adjust their intensity for weather conditions or surrounding traffic and roadway conditions. This is especially important on winding mountain roads where safety hazards—including falling rocks—are common in some regions of the country.
Cons: The main downside is cost. While buying a new car is always expensive (and has been for decades) upgrading your current vehicle may not be in the budget right away if you don’t get a good deal on it through your credit union or other financing source. However, since LEDs also save money due to their energy efficiency, they may pay for themselves over time in lower electric bills compared to traditional bulbs!
Better blind spot detection
One of the key safety features of self-driving cars is their advanced blind spot detection. The technology detects the presence of other vehicles in your blind spot, alerting you so that you can adjust accordingly and avoid a collision. Because most accidents occur when humans are unable to detect potentially dangerous drivers around them, this feature will be an incredibly important step in reducing injuries. Various automakers have already begun implementing similar technologies in their cars.
Self-driving cars will make the roads safer for everyone.
Not only will self-driving cars make the roads safer for everyone, but they’ll also reduce traffic accidents and congestion, as well as commute times. All of these factors combine to reduce fuel consumption and vehicle ownership, which will keep money in your wallet (and help save the environment).
For proponents of green technology, self-driving cars are a dream come true. Not only do they have the potential to decrease gas emissions with their efficient driving habits and smarter routes, but they can also be built with eco-friendly materials. For example, Tesla has announced that it’s creating its driverless vehicles using 80 percent recycled aluminum (see “Tesla to use at least 80 percent recycled aluminum in Model 3 car”).Less driver error
There are a ton of pros to self-driving cars, and the first one is that many companies are pouring tons of resources into making them safe. Here’s why it might be worth your time to wait until they become available:
Self-driving cars will reduce driver error, which reduces accidents and deaths.
They’ll increase safety for passengers, pedestrians, and other drivers.
They’ll cut down on travel times.
They’ll ease traffic congestion.
More efficient driving
Self-driving cars have the potential to change how much fuel we use on a daily basis. By optimizing speed and braking, self-driving cars can keep a safe distance from other vehicles while traveling at the highest possible speed. This can save motorists money in gas consumption and allow them to travel further distances than they could with manual driving.
In addition, self-driving cars can drive in a more efficient manner than humans by using lane-change assist and predictive emergency braking systems. These systems will help prevent accidents as well as reduce traffic congestion because they allow drivers to respond faster when faced with unexpected obstacles or conditions on the road
Less distracted driving
If you want the full safety benefits of self-driving cars, there’s a small price to pay: being less distracted while driving.
Having your car drive for you means you won’t be texting and driving, eating and driving, or putting on lipstick and driving. You’re no longer occupied with trying to squeeze every last ounce of productivity out of your commute time by checking emails while getting to work.
In other words, if self-driving cars ever take over, they really take over—so make sure you’re comfortable giving up more control than just not needing to steer!
More efficient traffic flow
As more cars become self-driving, they will be able to better and more safely coordinate traffic flow. This means that traffic can flow with less congestion and at higher speeds than today. It also means that fewer lanes or highways will have to be built. Self-driving cars will be able to take advantage of all roadways, and drive closer to each other in a way that humans cannot. When combined with other innovations, such as carpooling, there could be a drastic drop in the number of cars on the road, leading to much more efficient traffic flow.
Automated braking
It’s not just about you. Some of the most helpful features are those that apply to other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians on the road. It’s called automated braking, and it can be a lifesaver for everyone involved. Vehicles will physically stop themselves when they sense an impending collision with another person or vehicle. You don’t need to take your hands off the wheel—the car is equipped with sensors that do all this automatically.
So if someone runs out into the street in front of you, your self-driving car will know and avoid hitting them. If a deer jumps out in front of you as you’re driving down a curvy mountain road at night, guess who’s got your back? The same goes for another car that suddenly swerves into your lane or tries to cut you off on the highway. With automated braking, these dangerous situations are less likely to cause accidents—and even if they do happen anyway, at least both vehicles will be traveling at lower speeds when they collide!
Vehicle-to-vehicle communication
Vehicle-to-vehicle communication, or V2V, means that cars can talk to each other and exchange data about their speed, position, and direction. This information can be used to predict collisions and warn drivers about upcoming dangers. It could also be used to coordinate traffic flow over roadways: for example, merging into the same lane would not be a selfish act if you were aware that it would reduce congestion behind you. Furthermore, vehicles equipped with V2V are able to relay information from one another to roadside sensors (vehicle-to-infrastructure communication), further expanding the system’s capabilities.
Enhanced exterior lighting
If you’ve driven at night, you already know that standard headlights can be improved. Especially now that we have computer-smart vehicles, the lighting can be a lot more sophisticated.
As with any technology, there are benefits and drawbacks to enhanced exterior lighting. Here are some points from each perspective:
Pros: LEDs last longer and illuminate better. A typical LED headlight lasts about 50,000 hours; halogen bulbs last about 1,000 hours. Some LEDs even adjust their intensity for weather conditions or surrounding traffic and roadway conditions. This is especially important on winding mountain roads where safety hazards—including falling rocks—are common in some regions of the country.
Cons: The main downside is cost. While buying a new car is always expensive (and has been for decades) upgrading your current vehicle may not be in the budget right away if you don’t get a good deal on it through your credit union or other financing source. However, since LEDs also save money due to their energy efficiency, they may pay for themselves over time in lower electric bills compared to traditional bulbs!
Better blind spot detection
One of the key safety features of self-driving cars is their advanced blind spot detection. The technology detects the presence of other vehicles in your blind spot, alerting you so that you can adjust accordingly and avoid a collision. Because most accidents occur when humans are unable to detect potentially dangerous drivers around them, this feature will be an incredibly important step in reducing injuries. Various automakers have already begun implementing similar technologies in their cars.
Self-driving cars will make the roads safer for everyone.
Not only will self-driving cars make the roads safer for everyone, but they’ll also reduce traffic accidents and congestion, as well as commute times. All of these factors combine to reduce fuel consumption and vehicle ownership, which will keep money in your wallet (and help save the environment).
For proponents of green technology, self-driving cars are a dream come true. Not only do they have the potential to decrease gas emissions with their efficient driving habits and smarter routes, but they can also be built with eco-friendly materials. For example, Tesla has announced that it’s creating its driverless vehicles using 80 percent recycled aluminum (see “Tesla to use at least 80 percent recycled aluminum in Model 3 car”).