3 Ways Self-Driving Vehicles Will Change the World

Wouldn’t it be nice to simply sit back and read your daily paper on your way to work? Perhaps, you’d even like to catch up with friends and family while on the road to a business trip? Isn’t it just lovely to know you can just close your eyes and rest your weary head while driving home after a long day?

You can do all these (and more) when the time for self-driving vehicles finally comes around.

Driving for Change

It might seem like stuff from science fiction, but a scenario where a car can drive itself is something that people will see a lot sooner than expected. Currently, autonomous vehicle technology is growing at a fast pace, promising the world an alternative means of transport that could bode well for cities and their inhabitants.

Car manufacturers, world leaders, and key decision-makers are putting their heads together to come up with a mobility solution that will make road travel more sustainable for everyone on the planet. 

Forums and conferences, exhibitions, and other forms of assemblies happen often to discuss the impact of cars on daily life. Alternatively, key stakeholders and governments are also shifting the conversation to seek other means of transport that will provide a more human-centric and environment-friendly solution.

At present, cars are a major contributor to congestion in cities, and yet close to 80 million vehicles are still projected to be sold by the end of 2019. Cars are also one of the major causes of traffic-related accidents. Currently, nearly 1.5 million people die from car accidents every year; making car crashes the ninth leading cause of death in the world. 

Automobiles are also a leading cause of pollution, causing an estimated 3.7 million deaths due to air pollution, based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2012 statistics.

Self-driving transportation is aimed at addressing these concerns. With the technology it carries, autonomous vehicles may be able to reduce these risks and play a key role in safer and more sustainable mobility solutions.

Here are some of the ways that self-driving cars will change the world:

1. Reduce Environmental Impact 

Road transport is said to be a source of up to 30 percent of particulate emissions (PM) in European cities and as much as 50 percent of PM in OECD countries. One of the reasons for this is the use of old and inefficient diesel-powered vehicles. Similarly, ground-level ozone – another transport-related pollutant – is also responsible for chronic respiratory diseases as well as damage to ecosystem structures and functions.

These environmental issues can be addressed with the help of self-driving vehicles. Sustainable powertrain and propulsion systems are replacing old internal combustion engines to reduce and eventually eliminate harmful emissions. Automated vehicles are projected to run on partial or fully electrical systems, which means cutting down on the use of fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse and other toxic gases in the air.

Car-sharing and subscription services that make use of self-driving vehicles will also significantly reduce the number of cars on the road. Fewer cars will mean less congestion, less power used, and less pollution (from manufacturing as well as the use of these vehicles).

2. Reduce Traffic-Related Accidents 

Driver distraction is also one of the causes of road accidents globally. Drinking under the influence, texting while driving, exhaustion, and sleep deprivation are some of the factors that cause drivers to figure into motoring mishaps. These can all be avoided with self-driving vehicles.

Currently, driver alert and collision avoidance systems have already significantly lowered road accident rates. Autonomous technology, then, is seen to have better promise in reducing car crashes with the use of intelligent onboard systems. Automated technology will take care of the process of driving through a synergistic system that will safely transport people and cargo from point A to point B.

Similarly, vehicle manufacturers are developing vehicles that can “talk” to each other. The Volvo 360c concept, for example, proposes an autonomous vehicle communication system that is standardized for all so it can inform other autonomous vehicles and road users what it is going to do next. Cars ‘talking’ to other cars can lessen the risk of road accidents.

3. Increase Productivity and Pleasure 

Driverless and connected cars will also reduce traffic. By identifying the most efficient route, time, energy, and resources are saved.

Autonomous transportation will allow people to take back precious time doing more pleasurable or productive things. Instead of just being stuck in traffic, fuming, and getting tired of manning the wheel, car users can use that time to rest and relax. Connectivity makes it easier to listen to music, watch movies, play games, or communicate with loved ones while on the road.

Since your hands are not needed to drive the car, productivity is also increased. Time on the road can also be used to check through emails, work on business-related projects, or even conduct video conferences and meetings.

The Future is Here 

While autonomous vehicle technology is still being refined, and private and government entities continue to find workable solutions to its global application, people can already see the future of driverless vehicles now. 

Through insightful and fascinating displays and exhibitions that showcase how self-driving cars can be a boon to humans, people can develop a better appreciation for its advantages and benefits.