Fully autonomous vehicles are currently being made, and they’ve already generated a lot of buzz for both their potential and their drawbacks. The technologies that might be utilized in vehicles of the future may also already exist in your current automobile. Your present car could even have some of the same characteristics that will assist future self-driving cars to navigate safely. According to supporters, autonomous vehicles can help reduce the number of accidents caused by driver error. But, at the same time, autonomous vehicles also have issues with safety, risk, and insurance. Learn what’s happening right now with driverless cars—and what the future may hold.

Driverless Cars on the Market

Engineers are already developing driverless experiences—and autonomous vehicles. Because of this, the vehicle you drive today likely includes features that will be essential for autonomous vehicles in the future. In fact, many states are currently testing and deploying autonomous vehicles; they just aren’t available for purchase yet.

Automation Levels

There are a couple of ways that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration classifies the automation level of cars:

  • Level 1 means that the car is controlled by a driver with limited driving features like cruise control.
  • Level 2 is half automated with more ADAS features that can control the vehicle speed and brake system. These systems can travel down highways and even navigate in traffic. Making lane changes and automated parking are also features of ADAS.
  • Levels 3 to 5 mean that a car has much more control over its movement and steering. These types of cars are currently in the works. We still may be years away from getting a level 5 automated car. The real challenge is creating an automated driving system that can travel on dark and curvy roads.

Are Self-Driving Cars in the Near-Future?

It will be a slow process to properly introduce self-driving cars to public roads. It’s conceivable that self-driving vehicles will be incorporated with the fleet model, like a ridesharing company, which explains why autonomous cars will initially cost more. The expense is outweighed by the scale of a fleet, which might also save you money on insurance.

Risks Posed by Self-Driving Cars

Even Lyft is working on self-driving cars. Many businesses are focusing on autonomous driving technology and testing vehicles. There are several organizations dedicated to assisting and regulating the industry. Many of them have business partnerships or have been acquired by well-known firms, including Honda, Ford, and General Motors. However, self-driving cars will not be taking over rural highways and roads anytime soon. They don’t have the functionality to.  There are some risks to not having a real driver behind the wheel.

General Safety

Any collision with or because of a self-driving car must be reported. The state of California reports having received at least 300 of these reports this year. It’s an everyday job for automakers to stay up to date on these safety issues.

Cybersecurity

While on the road, self-driving automobiles will interact with one another and infrastructure. Even though vehicles have advanced considerably in recent years, there are still important and unresolved issues regarding who has access to consumer data. The vehicle will also rely on technology for safe operation, putting it at risk of hacking.

Auto Insurance for Self-Driving Cars

With the rise of autonomous vehicles and their impact on the insurance sector, much will change in an industry that is already evolving. Knowing the level of automation and how much the driver interacts with it will aid in determining who is accountable for an accident: the person driving, the machine/software, or the automaker. Currently, there are a number of federal and state laws in place to regulate the testing and operation of self-driving cars, as well as their insurance requirements. It’s a fair assumption that self-driving cars will need more liability coverage than standard vehicles. Some also predicate that the liability will be on the carmaker and not the driver or owner since the car technically lacks one.

Concerns About Liability Insurance

Experts predict that today’s automobile insurance will be modified to accommodate driverless cars, and there will not be many modifications in the immediate future. The fleet insurance model, on the other hand, appears to be most appealing and realistic for businesses. An automated car maker might offer or lease a pool of self-driving vehicles to a delivery firm, which would either self-insure or join the business’s liability coverage to pay for claims. Repairs would be handled in-house. Insurance is currently regulated on a state level, and many jurisdictions are getting involved with insurance and liability concerns surrounding self-driving vehicles. Some states have no legislation regarding the subject.

Concerns About Repair Costs

While accident rates may decline, repairing a self-driving vehicle following a minor fender bender may cost insurers more, according to research. Autonomous vehicles require numerous sensors and cameras for operation; as a result, specialized automobile repair shops will be required to restore and calibrate them. Businesses with taxi or rental cars, for example, already employ in-house maintenance and are better equipped to deal with repairs. Repairs may also be centralized by the producers.

Concerns About Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity insurance could become a mainstream policy in the future. The insurance industry is then expected to be able to meet demand and charge reasonable premiums. Future annual coverage may or may not include a cybersecurity add-on to your basic policy for an autonomous vehicle.

Concerns About Safety and Insurance Claims

Insurance companies are still attempting to balance the advantages and risks of existing automated procedures to establish proper policy rates. Claims are also influenced by automation’s safety rating. ADASs are frequently consulted by insurance providers. They’ve found that level 2 automated cars have a 27% reduction in injury claims and a 19% reduction in property damages. This may be reflected in insurance rates.

When it came to property damage and bodily injury claims, technological improvements were discovered to have a beneficial impact, according to the Highway Data Loss Institute. Forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and automated emergency braking are all examples of second-level automation. However, there may be some roadblocks along the way to a more secure and less expensive conclusion. According to a recent IIHS study, drivers utilizing adaptive cruise control with lane-centering technology frequently exceed the speed limit and relinquish safety features. When confronted with curves in the road, other automated safety technologies may be switched off.

Self-Driving Cars in the Future

Automated vehicles are not only closer to reality than ever before, but they’re also poised to enter our society in a matter of years. There’s no question about it: driverless cars are on their way. How and when will be the critical issues to consider. Complex planning and collaboration must be undertaken to support smart city infrastructure and artificial intelligence advancements

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