Benefits and Problems of Driverless Vehicles

This article discusses the benefits and potential problems of driverless vehicles. It explores how driverless cars can eliminate fatalities caused by human error, provide access to driving technology for those who cannot drive, and reduce air pollution. However, it also highlights potential problems such as hacking, job loss, and high costs. The article also addresses ethical issues related to the decision-making of driverless cars and the balance between safety and mobility. The author concludes by stating their opinion that while driverless cars have advantages, there are still unresolved issues that need to be addressed. The article suggests implementing regulations such as redesigning traffic systems, certification requirements for manufacturers, and ensuring timely updates and emergency response plans.

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1. Benefits of driverless vehicles
Some of the benefits that can be derived from using driverless cars include;
 The use of driverless cars will get rid of all fatalities involving human error since it
estimated that 90% of all road fatalities are attributed to human error.
 Those who are not capable of driving such as the disable or those below the age required
will have access to driving technology since driverless vehicles tests or licenses.
 The does not pollute the air thus environmental friendly.
 The enhance quicker commute times (Mehrabad, 2016, p. 122).
2. What are some potential problems? Identify potential ethical issues in the
implementation of this technology.
 The driverless vehicle is subjected to criminal hacking or computer crashes.
 Those people making their living from operating transport vehicles will lose jobs since
human controlled driving will be replaced.
 The cost of acquiring and maintaining the driverless vehicle is high.
Some of the ethical issues in the implementation of this technology include;
 How this particular car will decide the lives of its passengers and the lives of pedestrians?
 How will safety and mobility balanced since as soon as the car goes faster than walking
pace, it is difficult to prevent it from crushing into a child that might run onto the road.

3. In your opinion, do the benefits outweigh the potential problems? Why or why not
From the advantages, it is claimed that around 1.3 million worldwide die as a result of car
accident. Human error contributes almost 94% of those crushes, and the use of driverless cars
will help in minimizing the accidents being incurred. From my own perspective, I think we are
still not prepared to have driverless cars since there are certain problems need to be addressed. It
is being said that driverless cars will save lives, reduce accidents and also ease congestion but the
data to support them is nowhere near complete since no one knows how many lives can be saved
by driverless cars, and if many driverless vehicles are operating in a close proximity at high
speed, some accidents are likely to involve more vehicles and be even more serious than other
accidents we have ever seen. And if the cars are better than human then they should be subjected
to the rules that were designed for human fallibility (Kowalski, 2014, p. 67).
4. What regulations should be implemented to control this technology
 All the traffic system should be redesigned starting from the crosswalk to overall traffic
design.
 The manufacturer must certify that the car meets all the requirements before introduced
in the market.
 Accurate and timeliness of updates to cars’ onboard maps must be done.
 Driverless car companies must have a plan on how to deal with emergency situations and
interacting with first responders.
 The companies must have system for investigating crashes and various anomalies, as well
as, updating the cars software (Kowalski, 2014, p. 45).

References
Kowalski, D. (2014). The integration of driverless vehicles for commercial purposes. Media participation.
Mehrabad, S. (2016). Driverless car technology . Adventure Works Press.