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Are Driverless Cars Crashing Too Often To Make Them Safe?
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Both Google and Tesla started testing driverless car models in 2016. Most auto enthusiasts were thrilled to see such advancements finally making their way into the mainstream. However, there were many different news articles during the year that highlighted accidents. So, we thought it was about time that someone asked a serious question. Are driverless cars crashing too often to make them safe? In an attempt to reach a logical conclusion, we spent some time looking at the most publicized crashes of the last twelve months. Take a read through this post and decide for yourself. Tesla autopilot crash – July 2016 Newspapers around the world began reporting on a terrible incident that resulted in fatalities in July last year. Test drivers were assessing systems used to help control a new Tesla design. The driver switched his car into autopilot and began to experience issues. Within less than ten minutes, he became involved in a smash and lost his life. At the time, representatives from Tesla still claimed accident rates were reduced by 50% thanks to their models. However, critics said driving in that manner de-skilled drivers and made them more likely to act irrationally or make errors. Google driverless car crash – August 2016 While the car itself wasn’t to blame, an accident that occurred in August 2016 raised eyebrows around the world. A Google car suffered damage when another motorist drove into the back of it. That caused a major setback for developers who want to create systems that stop that from happening. The car does have warning sensors that should place it out of harm’s way. However, they aren’t much use if the model is stationary at a junction. The onboard computer knows it can’t move the car forward when there’s a red light. So, it just sits there and waits for the impact. Google driverless car crash – September 2016 Google claimed the new generation of driverless cars would help to keep people safe on the roads. Even so, it would seem their technology is far from perfect. While it might stop vehicles from driving into one another, there are still many problems. In September 2016, the world witness that first hand. While waiting at traffic lights, a van pulled out in front of the automated machine, and it didn’t stop. The incident happened in California in the middle of the day when visibility was good. A representative from Schaefer Autobody claimed it was the worst driverless accident to date. Indeed, the repair costs alone totaled thousands of dollars. There have been many crashes during the last couple of years involving driverless cars. We just wanted to draw your attention towards some of the most widely reported instances. From that information, we conclude that technology needs to progress a little more. The whole point of having driverless cars is that they will protect people and reduce accidents. It would appear from those news stories that neither Google or Tesla have perfected the art thus far. At the same time, it’s clear to see they have made significant leaps during the last twelve months. Will we see vast improvements in 2017? You can bet your bottom dollar on that one!  knight-rider-driverless-car
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