In recent years, autonomous cars have become more popular in Florida and elsewhere. While these vehicles can make life easier for some people, they’re also considered dangerous. It’s important to understand the risks of autonomous cars.
It’s an unregulated industry
The autonomous car industry is unregulated, which means that the vehicles are not always up to safety standards. More motor vehicle accidents can occur as a result, putting everyone on the road in danger.
People get a false sense of security
People who purchase autonomous cars get a false sense of security in believing the cars are safe to get them from point A to point B without incident. However, these vehicles have a much higher rate of serious accidents than cars solely driven by people.
Additionally, autonomous vehicles are dubbed “driverless,” which is deceptive. People get the false sense that the cars can safely get them to their destination while they don’t have to do anything. While these cars are capable of traveling on their own, they still need a human to control them.
They’re prone to computer malfunctions
Autonomous cars run on computers. This is risky because any software glitch can lead to a disaster, including a serious accident. For example, if a camera sensor in the vehicle becomes compromised, the car might not recognize a pedestrian in the crosswalk as it’s approaching. If the vehicle continues traveling, it could hit the pedestrian and crash.
There’s a risk of fire
Autonomous cars run on lithium-ion batteries, which are known to easily combust. As a result, there’s a greater risk of the vehicle catching on fire, which can lead to catastrophic personal injuries to the driver and anyone around the vehicle at the time of the accident.
Radiation exposure
Because autonomous cars are like huge computers you can ride, there’s a much higher risk of exposure to radiation. The vehicles are equipped with GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other features that make for a considerably higher electromagnetic field of radiation. Being exposed to higher levels of radiation may lead to myriad injuries and illnesses.
Accidents involving autonomous vehicles can be catastrophic. If you suffer injuries, you have legal avenues to protect your rights.