The Dangers of Self-Driving Cars

As technology continues to increase, we see significant shifts in the way the world uses automobiles. What started as simply integrating some technology for safer travel turned into creating systems that do the driving without the assistance of a human. While this sounds amazing to some, others realize the complete dangers it can open. The Wall Street Journal also acknowledged how self-driving cars can create some significant flaws.

Let’s examine some of the dangers of self-driving cars and see what steps you must take if you are involved in an accident.

How Do Self-Driving Cars Work?

Self-driving cars utilize sophisticated sensors, cameras, and software. The camera and sensors give the vehicle “eyes” to navigate. While Level 4 vehicles are in the works right now, it won’t be long until they fill the streets. In some circumstances, this type of car doesn’t need any intervention or help from humans.

Currently, there are six levels of automobiles available.

Level 0: People remain in control of all driving functions.

Level 1: A few driving tasks are performed without human intervention. For example, cruise control is one task.

Level 2: Driving tasks like acceleration and steering are performed without guidance, but there might be times when intervention is necessary.

Level 3: Most of the time, this vehicle can handle safety-related functions without help. There are times when the driver might need to intervene, only when alerted.

Level 4: Fully operational autonomous setup is used in most circumstances. Sometimes, there is assistance required from the human.

Level 5: This car is completely autonomous. There is no need for the driver to perform any tasks. Currently, Waymo is testing this with the Chrysler Pacifica.

Ethics is Top Concern

Before we discuss if these systems work and how reliable they are, it’s important we discuss ethics. No matter how advanced the technology becomes, there’s no way to instill human feelings and emotions into the mix.

The main focus of automated vehicles is to ensure that all the occupants remain safe. It’s not uncommon for a driver to put the safety of someone outside the vehicle first. In the instance of a small child running into the road, some human drivers might choose to protect the child and injure themselves instead.

The big question is – what would the self-driving vehicle do?

It’s programmed to stop before it hits anything, so the brakes would be applied. It’s also possible that it would stop long before a human driver would have been able to. With that in mind, the self-driving car has an advantage.

However, if there isn’t notice when the child runs out, which is most often the case, what will the car do? It is going to choose the path that keeps the occupants’ safest, regardless of what happens to that child.

Liability Rules

Accidents occur whether there are human-operated or self-driving cars on the road. The trouble with self-driving cars is that it is harder to determine liability in many cases. Surely, there will be fewer accidents caused by drunk driving and reckless behavior, but what about other situations?

If the self-driving automobile causes the crash, all rules change. With the operator out of the equation, there can’t be any ruling for reckless behavior, driver error, or drunk driving. Most likely, an accident occurred because of a flaw in the software or sensors. There’s also the chance that there’s a problem with the roadway itself.

Self-Driving Cars Downfall

While there are numerous advantages to owning a self-driving vehicle, there are also plenty of disadvantages. Here are a few to consider:

Hacking: The software is susceptible to malware and hacking, which leaves you vulnerable.

Inclement weather: Poor weather conditions cause the camera and sensors additional interference. This prevents communication and diminishes reliability.

Misreading directions: At this time, self-driving cars can’t understand certain directions. It is difficult for a vehicle to recognize what a construction worker or specific flags are trying to say. The vehicle also won’t obey police officers who are guiding traffic. Therefore, manual signals go unrecognized and leave the door open for accidents.

Obey the law: Self-driving vehicles may not understand each state’s laws and be able to adapt accordingly.

Treating Injury from Self-Driving Cars

Now that you read the possible downfalls of self-driving cars, you want to know what the next steps are if you found yourself in an accident with a self-driving car. Whether you are facing a back, neck or whiplash injury, you need immediate care. It’s not uncommon to have so much stiffness and muscle pain that you can’t function properly without help. If left untreated, the injuries can become a serious issue.

The first step to recovery is to contact a chiropractor. You need x-rays to determine if there are severe injuries in your spine or neck. You may not immediately notice these injuries, so you don’t want to wait.

It’s also possible that you encounter headaches, general discomfort, and pain in widespread areas. This could be the result of whiplash. Most people assume that this only happens from a high-speed accident, but speed changes of only five mph can lead to an injury.

Indicators of whiplash include blurred vision, dizziness, shoulder pain, headaches, arm pain, and reduced range of motion. If left untreated, it can also lead to muscle injuries, back pain, disc damage, and ligament problems. It’s not uncommon to experience no symptoms at first other than some soreness. It should never be assumed that you are injury-free without a consultation from a professional.

Any injury left untreated can cause serious health problems. It’s typical for us to see patients that begin experiencing headaches or pain months after a car accident occurred. You want to see a chiropractor immediately following an accident to be sure – self-driving car or not.

Why You Must Contact County Line Chiropractic Medical & Rehab Centers Now

We strongly advise you to visit one of our five convenient South Florida locations immediately following the incident. Not only are walk-ins always welcome, but we also offer:

• Transportation to the nearest center
• Full-service diagnostics
• Customized treatment plans
• Expert staff with the latest training

If you want to retain medical benefits, you only have 14 days after the accident to declare your injuries. That’s why you should get to a County Line center immediately. If your injuries aren’t life-threatening, avoid the ER and stop by County Line first. You can always call us or schedule an appointment online.