A SAFER FUTURE

Lex Robbins Section 6

Technology

Google’s robotic test cars have about $150,000 in equipment installed

$70,000 LIDAR (laser radar) system mounted on top

Allows vehicle to generate a detailed 3D map of its environment

Combines these maps with maps of the world, producing data that allow it to drive itself

Major Benefits

Safer than humans driving Increases mobility for the impaired Increases human productivity

Safety

Eliminates driver error 1 in 4 crashes involve cell-phone

distracted drivers 30 people killed each day in collisions

that involve an intoxicated driver 5.5 million total traffic accidents

annually More than 93% due to driver error

Safety

Significantly lowers the number of car crashes

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/10/23/heres-what-it-would-take-for-self-driving-cars-to-catch-on/

Autonomous Vehicle Crash Estimates

Percentage of Self-Driving

Cars on the Road

10% 50% 90%

Lives Saved

(Annually)

1,100 9,600 21,700

Fewer Crashes

(Annually)

211,000 1,880,000 4,220,000

Increases Mobility

Elderly, young adults, physically impaired

People aged 65 or older accounted for 17% of traffic deaths in the U.S. in 2011

Restores freedom and independence http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-1

0-20/elderly-dying-in-crashes-seen-spurring-self-driving-car-demand.html

Increases Human Productivity Hands free driving allows more time to

do things (work, eat, sleep) Quicker travel times Less traffic Delivery service and freight

transportation Long-distance journeys made easier

Consumer doubt Only 18% would buy this

type of vehicle Only 33% said they

would feel safe on roads filled with them

Is it safe? Is it too expensive? Who is liable if there is a

crash?

Obstacles

Significance

Safer More reliable Increases mobility Increases productivity More efficient

References

"Injury Prevention & Control: Motor Vehicle Safety." Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17 Apr. 2013. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html

Plumer, Brad. "Here's What It Would Take For Self-Driving Cars To Catch On." The

Washington Post. N.p., 23 Oct. 2013. Web. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/10/23/heres-what-it-would-take-for-self-driving-cars-to-catch-on/ 

"Recent Analysis Indicates Cell Phone Distracted Driving Crashes Vastly Under-reported."

The Wall Street Journal. N.p., 7 May 2013. Web. http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130507-913772.html