Technological Takeover
With artificial intelligence being all the rage, it makes sense that self-driving cars are becoming an increasingly attractive option. However, many people still fear the dangers of robot drivers. To settle the debate, here are 10 reasons for and against buying a self-driving car.
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1. Emergency Response
While some people debate the safety of a self-driving car, did you know that in the event of an impact, the car will automatically contact authorities? Additionally, there have been multiple cases where drivers experience heart attacks or medical emergencies, and their car is able to drive them to the hospital automatically. Self-driving cars save lives!
2. Parking Pro
A fun quirk about these cars is they make parking a breeze. Sit back while the car traverses the parking maze, or have it drop you off at the front of the building. Either way, a self-driving car is equipped with the tools to send you a locator ping after it parks itself.
3. Accessibility
For many people who have difficulty driving or have experienced accident-based trauma, a self-driving car can make the road accessible again. While such iterations are far off, through automated vehicles we can one day live in a world where even the blind can drive.
4. Better Traffic Flow
Self-driving cars are hooked up to an extensive online network, which means they are always talking to each other. Your car will already know what the traffic situation up ahead looks like, and it has the insider knowledge needed to pick out the fastest path.
5. Environmentally Conscious
For those who value environmental sustainability, it’s worth noting that self-driving cars leverage electric resources and renewable energy to be more eco-conscious. This makes automated vehicles one of the greenest cars out there.
6. Safety First
When it comes down to it, self-driving cars are safer drivers. This means they can see accidents coming miles ahead, and if you’re about to be hit, an automated machine will always react faster than the human brain—saving precious seconds and lives.
7. Road Trips Made Easy
Vacationing becomes a lot easier when you have a robot at the wheel. Long road trips are a breeze when you can take a break whenever you want and simply sit idly while you make your way across the country.
8. Relaxed Pace
Whether you’re commuting to work or returning home after a long night, the self-driving features let you roll down the window and enjoy the scenery as the car worries about the driving. Finally, you’re free to relax.
9. Cool Factor
While this isn’t the most practical reason to buy a self-driving car, one can’t deny how cool they are. All your friends and family will be impressed, and strangers on the road will probably approach you with a thousand questions.
10. Take The Wheel
Another cool safety feature of self-driving cars is their ability to take control. In one incident, a woman was rear-ended and was unable to regain the wheel. Luckily, her self-driving car slowed down and parked itself on the side of the road, preventing her from spinning out.
Now, don’t be hasty. While you may be ready to call up your local Tesla and order a self-driving car, there are a few negative points to take into consideration too.
1. Expensive
You probably saw this coming, but yes, self-driving cars are expensive. What’s worse is that they’re very difficult to get, and the most advanced self-driving cars have yet to hit consumer markets.
2. Cybersecurity
Like many smart vehicles, self-driving cars are susceptible to hacking. This becomes even more dangerous when a stranger can control and drive your vehicle. Yikes!
3. Legal Aspects
The legalities surrounding self-driving cars are still new and unrefined. For example, you can’t text in the driver’s seat, even if the car is controlling itself. Currently, laws require you to be fully aware and present.
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4. Economic Loss
Some people believe self-driving cars have a negative economic impact, as Uber and taxi drivers are being replaced with robots instead. Although it’s super cool to sit in an automated taxi, it’s definitely not fair to hard-working civilians who lose their jobs.
5. In the Works
Like lots of cutting-edge technologies, self-driving cars are very much in the works. That means new and optimized features have yet to come out, and the best versions aren’t even ready for the market yet. It might be better to save your money for final editions.
6. Mixed Reputation
While some people think self-driving cars are the coolest, others are hesitant and nervous. Many believe humans to be better drivers and can be combative if you show up with a self-driving car.
7. Machines Fail
Like all machines, self-driving cars are susceptible to failures. While for regular vehicles, this may mean breaking down, for self-driving cars, it could mean all sorts of shenanigans, from wrong turns to dangerous decisions.
8. Difficult Maintenance
Since they are so new and limited, many insurance companies or maintenance shops do not offer services geared toward automated vehicles. This will make it harder to get your car the love and care it needs.
9. Car Sickness
Strangely, there is a slight increase in people experiencing car sickness in automated vehicles. This could be because most drivers wrongly distract themselves with reading, which is known to cause motion problems.
10. Irresponsible Behavior
Unfortunately, many people will take advantage of self-driving cars. This may lead to increases in driving under the influence or acting distracted when they should be paying attention to the road. Leave it to bad apples to ruin it for the rest of us.
