For decades, science fiction books and television shows have depicted a world where vehicles are either flying, autonomous, or both. These days, it’s estimated that 95% of new car productions will be for autonomous vehicles by 2040. Now that self-driving cars are very much a reality, the question beckons, is trusting AI to drive our cars for us really a good idea?
Scientific evidence shows that the benefits to mankind are in the numbers. With breakthroughs in deep learning, algorithms are able to detect if another vehicle is close, what speed the car should be going at to be safe, and how to stay perfectly within the lanes using image markers. In addition to vehicles being capable of driving themselves, it can also be argued that self-driving cars will be much better drivers than humans due to their inability to become distracted. Humans are notoriously bad at staying focused on driving when there is a text message to answer, they have been driving for long hours without sleep, or there is a crying baby in the back seat. Additionally, concerns also arise around drivers who are reckless, upset, or under the influence of a substance that affects motor skills.
Taking this into consideration, the evidence seems very supportive of self-driving cars. A refined algorithm has the ability to be a better driver with less accidents and deaths than less-than-perfect humans. However, there may be other consequences to the takeover by autonomous vehicles that may have a significant societal impact.
In the United States and other countries, earning a driver’s license can be viewed as a cultural “Right of Passage”. The milestone signifies that the individual can now transport themselves without supervision of an adult. To get a license, the maturing teen needs to prove that they understand and respect the rules of the road and can pass a driver’s test. Driving also carries responsibilities that most teens have not yet had to consider in their lives. Following the law, adhering to the rules of the road, vehicle maintenance and attention to self preservation all have immediate benefits to their well-being. Earning a license for teens can be a significant “transition period” between child and adult and helps prepare them for when they will leave home to pursue college or other endeavors on their own. Considering this transition phase to be important in teen development, it can be argued that switching to a society where learning to drive is obsolete may have a negative effect on younger generations.
In conclusion, the societal and developmental impacts of a self-driving society is an important to consider. Earning a license as a teenager is something that has become ingrained into our society since the automobile was invented, and changing the way we drive will inevitably impact the way humans develop into responsible adults.
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