Autonomous vehicles are under development by a number of auto manufacturers and other companies, notably Google. The promise of self-driving cars is that they will not only be convenient for travelers, but will greatly reduce car accidents. Some reports indicate that wide adoption of driverless vehicles could reduce car accidents by 90 percent, saving 300,000 lives over the course of a decade. These estimates take into account information showing that the use of autonomous driving systems is safer, because computers make fewer mistakes than humans.
Now, however, there is one car accident critics can point to that was caused by a self-driving car. Google made public an accident report filed with the California DMV regarding a February 14 crash involving one of its autonomous vehicles. Google reported that one of its Lexus SUVs was autonomously driving itself on a California street and stopped when it detected sand bags in the road. The vehicle waited for several cars to pass and then merged to pass the sand bags, striking the side of a public transit bus. The human test driver in the vehicle said that he did not intervene because he thought the bus would yield.
Google admitted only that “we clearly bear some responsibility” in the accident. Despite the incident, auto safety experts say that autonomous vehicles are expected to save lives. In 2014, there were 32,675 deaths from car accidents in the United States, and 2,494 in Florida alone.
Tips for Safe Holiday Driving to Reduce Your Risks for an Accident As Thanksgiving and Christmas time are approaching, the 2011 holiday season is in full swing. With crowds filling the streets on Black Friday and shoppers hustling around to get their Christmas shopping done, it’s no wonder that drivers are a little more frantic and aggressive on Florida roads during the holiday time. Additionally, many people...
7 of the Best Vehicles for Families When you are buying a car for your family, safety is paramount. You want a car that’s safe, reliable, spacious, and affordable. U.S. News and World Report assesses the options on the market for families, and publishes a yearly list of the best cars for families for each vehicle class. U.S. News and World Report...
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How to Access a Car Accident Police Report in Lauderhill, FL The easiest way to access a car accident police report for a crash in Lauderhill, FL, is by going online and using the Broward County web portal to request the record. Other options include getting a hard copy by calling or requesting a record by mail. If you have trouble accessing a police report, a Lauderhill...
When Are You Required to Report an Auto Accident in Florida? If a car accident occurs and damages a vehicle (or other property) but does not require a police report (see criteria below), the driver of any vehicle involved in the collision must report the accident within the 10 days following the crash. This written report must be provided via a law-enforcement-approved form. When an Auto...
