Autonomous vehicles are becoming increasingly popular in Louisiana and across the United States. They boast infotainment systems, backup cameras, lane assistance and other features that manufacturers claim make them safer than traditional automobiles. However, one resource states that eliminating human mistakes will not necessarily eliminate all car crashes.
Research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety suggests that, while in the future autonomous vehicles will prevent certain types of crashes, but will do little to stop some of the most common types of accidents.
The statistics on human error and autonomous vehicles
Currently, driver error causes over 9 out of 10 car accidents. However, according to the research, only around 33% of these collisions were the result of errors that autonomous vehicles were designed to avoid. Autonomous vehicles will have to be programmed to put safety before convenience to prevent the remaining two-thirds of collisions.
Types of driving errors
There are five categories of driver errors. They include:
- Sensing and perceiving errors
- Predicting errors
- Planning and deciding errors
- Execution and performance errors, and
- Incapacitation
Collisions involving sensing and perceiving errors made up 23% of all crashes. Incapacitation made up 10% of all crashes. Autonomous vehicles can prevent crashes caused by errors such as distracted driving, drunk driving and drowsy driving. However, autonomous vehicles would have to be designed to avoid the other types of driver errors.
Are autonomous vehicles truly safe?
Autonomous vehicles provide features that help increase safety, but they cannot prevent all motor vehicle accidents. Car crashes will continue to occur, leading to injuries, death and personal injury lawsuits. If you were injured in a crash involving an autonomous vehicle anywhere in the United States, you will want to make sure you understand your rights to pursue a personal injury lawsuit based on negligence.