Self-driving cars pose several serious dangers that the public should be aware of. The software that controls these vehicles can misinterpret road conditions and fail to detect obstacles, which has already led to fatal self-driving car accidents in Chicago. The sensor hardware can malfunction due to environmental factors or manufacturing flaws. Drivers tend to place too much trust in the technology and stop paying attention to the road, leaving no one in control when the system encounters a situation it cannot handle. On top of all that, there is no comprehensive federal law governing how these systems must perform before they reach consumers, which means the technology is largely being tested on public roads with minimal oversight.
As autonomous features become more common on highways and city streets, every person on the road faces some degree of risk from this technology. Below is a closer look at why these dangers persist.
How Do Software and Sensor Failures Put People at Risk?
The autonomous driving systems in self-driving cars rely on algorithms and onboard sensors to interpret the road and make split-second decisions. Some of the specific ways these systems can fail include:
- Software algorithms misreading the road environment and misjudging the vehicle’s surroundings
- Failing to recognize a pedestrian stepping into a crosswalk
- Miscalculating the speed or distance of an oncoming vehicle
- Sensor hardware breaking down or underperforming due to manufacturing flaws
- Reduced system accuracy caused by environmental conditions like heavy rain or direct sunlight
These limitations are not always communicated clearly to consumers, which creates a dangerous gap between what drivers expect the technology to do and what it can actually handle.
Why Does Driver Overreliance Make Self-Driving Cars More Dangerous?
Many of the self-driving systems currently on the road are not fully autonomous. They require the human occupant to stay engaged and ready to take control at any moment. In practice, however, drivers often treat these systems as if they can handle every situation on their own. Federal investigations into multiple fatal crashes have revealed a pattern of dangerous behavior behind the wheel.
Some of the most common forms of driver overreliance are:
- Keeping hands off the wheel for extended periods while the autonomous system is engaged
- Looking at a phone or other device instead of monitoring the road
- Trusting the manufacturer’s marketing language and assuming the car can drive itself without any supervision
- Failing to stay alert enough to intervene when the system encounters something it cannot process
- Ignoring dashboard warnings or audible alerts designed to prompt the driver to retake control
If the technology reaches its limits and the driver is not prepared to respond, there may be no one effectively in control of the vehicle. As a Chicago accident lawyer can explain, that is when the most serious accidents tend to occur.
Contact a Self-Driving Vehicle Accident Lawyer if You’ve Been Injured in a Crash
If you were injured in a crash involving a self-driving vehicle, you may be able to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim. Meyers & Flowers represents victims of autonomous vehicle failures on a national basis. With over 100 years of combined experience and more than $6 billion recovered, our attorneys have the resources to hold manufacturers fully liable in these cases.
Call (630) 576-9696 today for a free consultation. We can answer your questions and provide you with some initial legal advice at that time.