Tags: Automation, automated cars, self-driving cars, cars, car safety, Google, Tesla
Both Google and Tesla have promised to release self-driving cars in the near future with Google’s self-driving car being fully automated while Tesla’s would be partially automated. As testing for each car goes underway, researchers have published study after study testifying the superiority of automated driving versus human-controlled driving. However, Tesla’s semi-automated car made headlines after one test driver died during a run. Google’s automated car also made headlines after getting into a car accident.
While researchers attempt to prove that self-driving cars are more efficient, will lead to less accidents, and overall, will reduce the number of car-related deaths, the public is skeptical. MIT AgeLab ran a similar study in 2016 and found that public perception of self-driving cars has only worsened in the past year. Technological advancements are typically embraced as upgrades to current society; however, the automated car has met with serious doubt and fear.
As tech companies continue to spend millions to create an automated car, these companies should also invest in educating the public and assessing the public’s desire for these cars. What would it take for you to buy an automated car?
