The notion of autonomous vehicles (AVS) has moved from being an abstract concept to a reality. They are being developed and tested on public roads, and there is a growing consensus that they will have a revolutionary effect on how we travel. Any new technology has its merits and disadvantages; this article provides a review of some of the advantages and disadvantages of autonomous vehicles and what businesses and consumers should be aware of as they continue to evolve.
Advantages: Safety And Less Traffic
Arguably, the most touted advantage of autonomous vehicles is their ability to lower traffic accident rates and deaths. Since humans are the primary source of errors that cause most traffic accidents, the use of autonomous vehicles will create safer roads.
Some of the safety features of autonomous vehicles include:
- Reducing human error – autonomous vehicles rely on sensors, cameras and algorithms to determine decisions, therefore reducing accidents caused by distractions, impairment, etc.
- Predictive Technology – Autonomous vehicles will be able to predict and react to road conditions or hazards before human drivers.
- Decrease in accidents – With reduced traffic accidents, insurance premiums will be less and so will medical bills.
Overall, autonomous vehicles will lead to safer roads and fewer accidents thereby improving public safety.
Advantages: Increased Efficiencies And Convenience
Autonomous vehicles will increase efficiency on our roads and therefore travel will become faster and more convenient for individuals and businesses.
Efficiency advantages include:
- Reduced Congestion – Autonomous vehicles will communicate with each other to optimize traffic flow and reduce congestion and bottlenecks.
- Increased Mobility – Autonomous vehicles will give those who cannot drive due to age, disability or other reason, more opportunities to travel.
- Improved Fuel Efficiency – Autonomous vehicles will be able to take the most efficient route and drive pattern, resulting in improved fuel efficiency and fewer emissions.
Autonomous vehicles will increase the overall efficiency of transportation systems and will give users additional convenience options.
Disadvantages: Displacement Of Jobs And Negative Economic Impact
Although autonomous vehicles present many positive effects, they also present negative impacts, primarily through job displacement. Many areas of work including trucking, delivery services and taxi services depend on the presence of human drivers.
Negative economic implications include:
- Loss of jobs – The large-scale implementation of AV’s could result in the loss of millions of jobs in the transportation industry.
- Economic Disruption – Some industries may experience disruptions in transitioning employees to the changing nature of their job function.
- Re-training/Reskilling – Employees will require the opportunity to train/retrain to learn skills required to transition into new positions created by emerging technologies.
There is much to be concerned about with regard to job displacement and its affect on workers in the transportation industry.
Disadvantages: Ethical And Legal Issues
Implementation of autonomous vehicles creates a multitude of ethics and laws to be considered, especially when the AV must make decisions that directly affect human life in critical situations.
Considerations regarding ethics and law include:
- Ethical Dilemma – AV’s will be forced to make decisions in situations where harm is unavoidable, forcing difficult ethical decision-making.
- Liability – There will be a great deal of confusion in establishing liability in accidents caused by AV’s with few clear legal precedents.
- Privacy – AV’s collect a tremendous amount of information about the user, causing concern over data protection and security.
To successfully integrate autonomous vehicles into society, addressing ethical, legal and privacy issues is necessary.
Conclusion
Autonomous vehicles have the possibility of providing great advantages in safety, efficiency and convenience. However, they also present a multitude of challenges, particularly in the form of job displacement, ethical dilemmas, and the complexity of the law. It will be essential for policy makers, business leaders, and consumers to thoughtfully weigh the pros and cons of autonomous vehicles as the technology continues to advance and to implement this innovation in a way that positively affects society.
