Autonomous vehicles have been in the works for at least a few years and many people wondered if they would ever really be on the streets. Autonomous vehicles are on the roads today and their numbers are likely going to increase in the next few years. Autonomous vehicles go by several names, including driverless cars, automated vehicles, or self-driving cars. With more of these vehicles on the roads, you may wonder how safe these vehicles are.
Automated Vehicle Safety Technology
Automated vehicle safety is important and there continue to be new and improved technologies that increase the safety of these vehicles. Over the years, there have been some safety features that have been added to traditional vehicles that paved the way for automated vehicle safety. For instance, many vehicles manufactured between 2000 and 2010 have safety features such as blind spot detection, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and electronic stability control.
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Vehicles made from 2010 through 2016 may have enhanced safety features that include rearview video systems, automatic emergency braking, and lane-centering assist. Vehicles made from 2016 until 2026 may have additional advanced features like lane-keeping assist, traffic jam assist, and adaptive cruise control. It is estimated that by 2025 vehicles will have fully automated safety features.
New Features Improve Safety
The newest features are geared towards the eventual goal of driverless vehicles. However, currently, the available features on general vehicles require that a driver is present and attentive to the road. With that in mind, the latest features help to prevent and avoid accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Fully automated vehicles are still in the testing phase in several areas of the country. There are strict regulations that currently allow only a certain number of autonomous fleet vehicles on the road.
Fully Self-Driving Vehicles
Fully self-driving or autonomous vehicles are not available for sale to the general public at this time. These vehicles are still being tested and are under evaluation. The self-driving vehicles that are on public roadways are limited for the purpose of testing, research, and pilot programs. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) monitors the safety of these self-driving vehicles. As a division of the United States Department of Transportation, they oversee the limited testing, development, and deployment of these vehicles in specific areas of the country. The information they gather will be utilized to further assist in the development of autonomous vehicles. There will continue to be laws in place to govern autonomous vehicles on our roadways.
Autonomous vehicle safety is certainly a concern for most drivers. When you share the road with any other vehicle, you want to be assured of its safe operation. If you are involved in an accident with an autonomous vehicle, you should follow the same process as you would if you were in an accident with any other vehicle. The negligent driver, or in this case, vehicle, would be responsible for any damages they caused. If you were hurt in an accident, do not delay. Contact our lawyers today at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 for a free initial consultation to discuss the accident.
When it is time to fight, we fight to win. The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
Automated Vehicle Safety | NHTSA
Autonomous vehicle | Definition, History, & Facts | Britannica
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