Are you Ready for Self-Driving Cars?

October 20, 2022, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

You may be ready for self-driving cars, but it appears we aren’t! Manufacturers contend that we need only to update the legislation and the cars are ready to hit the roads but is this true?

Not that long ago self-driving cars were the stuff of science fiction and cartoons – now they are a reality, and they are ‘waiting to happen’. The progress has been rapid – it started with parking assist about a decade ago and has advanced from there to smart cruise control, lane assist tech, crash avoidance and even self-driving capabilities.

The self-braking technology is especially key in the move to self-driving since it relies on radar sensors to detect obstacles and to steer clear of them. The technical ability to program destinations exists, as does the ability to steer, accelerate and stop themselves. In essence not much is required of the driver anymore in these vehicles.

What is required for fully automated cars on all roads?

1. Consumer confidence
2. Legislation and insurance updates
3. Comprehensive testing
4. Complete satellite/cell coverage allowing for 5G communication (the internet of things).
    

Tesla Model 5 already has the Autopilot system that can take almost all the effort out of highway driving. All the driver needs to do is keep the hands on the wheel. Of course, this is challenging since it’s difficult to maintain your attention on the road if you aren’t doing anything but holding the wheel. There has been more than one report of people asleep behind the wheel of these Tesla.
 

The vehicle manufacturers contend that the autopilot systems have been tested for millions of km on the roadways of North America and have proven to be much safer than people driving cars. Research from independent sources, and data turned in from manufacturers are inconsistent.

The safe answer to the question of 'are you ready for fully automated cars?' is that you may be ready, but the cars aren’t yet. The timeframe for large scale roll outs is not known and depends on answering the following questions:

1. How safe is safe enough?
2. What are they safe enough for?
3. For whom are they safe enough?

If you have been seriously injured in a car accident with a car in automated drive mode you should contact one of our experienced personal injury lawyers today for free advice on how to proceed.

About Deutschmann Law

Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.

It is important that you review your accident benefit file with one of our experienced personal injury / car accident lawyers to ensure that you obtain access to all your benefits which include, but are limited to, things like physiotherapy, income replacement benefits, vocational retraining and home modifications.