May 2021 – As our technology advances, companies like Google and Tesla have started to rise in popularity due to self-driving cars. Self-driving cars have grown vastly in the last couple of years. With this new technology, there is no doubt that there are many safety concerns and questions. With that being said they might be better than a human driver.

What is a self-driving car and how do they work?

Before discovering self-driving cars, we need to understand what they are and how they work. Self-driving cars are a type of AI robotic car that doesn’t need a physical driver which is why they are also known as driverless cars. There are different types of self-driving cars. There are multiple levels of self-driving cars. In one of the levels the driver and the car share control, but in other levels, the car is in full control. The driverless car has many sensors that help navigate its surroundings and help to find the fastest way from point A to point B.

Are they safe?

In theory, driverless cars should be safer than human drivers, but are they? The short answer is yes! According to an article by NHTSA, “94% of motor vehicle accidents are caused by human error.” So by cutting that human error, the driverless cars should be safer than a regular car with a driver. They’re also better for the environment! Well, they should be.  Some driverless cars like Teslas are electric so they are much better for our environment, and according to an article by the Greener Ideal, “Driverless cars also mean fewer cars per household…This reduces the overall number of cars on the road, as well as unnecessary overlapping trips that contribute to emissions.”

Overall, I see nothing wrong with driverless cars. If anything, I think they could be a real benefit to the world by reducing emissions and making the roads safer. The only possible concern would be the price. According to an article by QZ it costs “about $250,000 per vehicle.” But if you’re okay with the price, then I think that self-driving cars are a great option.