The future of roadway safety: autonomous vehicles

With over 31,000 auto accident fatalities in 2017, the reality of autonomous vehicles is coming quicker than ever. There are changes being made to increase road safety, and many lawmakers believe this can be done through driverless vehicles. Whether or not you believe them to be a step in the right direction, autonomous vehicles are quickly making their way to the streets.

Benefits of Automation

SAFETY BENEFITS

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), the benefits of driverless vehicles are paramount, as human error accounts for 94% of serious car accidents. By removing the potential of human error from car accidents, the NHTSA believes that road safety will increase exponentially.

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

Studies show that in 2010, motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) cost over:

• $240 billion in economic activity
• $58 billion in lost workplace productivity
• $594 billion in loss of life or decreased QOL

Decreasing the number of accidents that occur each year can help drastically decrease the amount of money going to compensate MVA victims, along with help keep roadways safer.

EFFICIENCY

It’s been estimated that Americans spend an estimated 7 billion hours in traffic annually. You may see it often; your drive is going smooth only to see an unexpected sea of brake lights. After traveling through the traffic, you find yourself wondering what it was that caused the traffic. Only to find out that it was from individuals going under the speed limit to look at an accident that took place on the side of the road. People are nosy by nature, and much of the traffic on the highways today can be linked back to driver error. Autonomous vehicles can help free up time for drivers to participate in other activities.

THE UNFORTUNATE TRUTH

While the benefits of autonomous vehicles all seem to be aimed at increasing road safety, the truth is that they will not be implemented for years. People are aware of the dangers associated with driving negligently. However, drivers so things each day that continue to cause accidents:

• Distracted driving
• Negligent driving
• Reckless driving

If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident due to the negligence of another, our team at Sachs Law Firm would love to explain how we can help. For countless years, our team of trusted California and Nevada car accident lawyers has been helping those wrongly injured seek the compensation they deserve.

Give our car accident attorneys at Sachs Law a call today at (833) MVP-WINS for a free initial consultation.