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Rise of Autonomous Vehicles: Good or Challenged?

We keep hearing about the development of autonomous vehicles on the news. Is this something we should be excited or worried about?

Do Autonomous Vehicles Exist?

Yes, they do! You have probably heard about the driverless Google cars. Operated as a ride-sharing service in some cities like San Francisco and Phoenix, you can get across town without a driver. However, on the roads around Huntington Beach, you will only encounter vehicles that have an autonomous operating system that requires somebody to sit behind the wheel. And there are only so many of those at the moment.

Where can AVs operate right now?

An AV requires a connected computer system with precise GPS to function. The self-driving feature will only activate on roads that are certified for this type of use. These roads must have limited access–like a freeway or interstate–and have well-maintained lane markers.

If the AV does not recognize that it is not on an authorized road, or it cannot see the lines, it will not activate the self-driving mode. It will also monitor the status of the driver and give you a nudge if you become distracted–just in case.

 

Just how safe are autonomous vehicles?

It’s hard for us to believe that a fully automated car will be the safer option, but it will be. While you may read headlines of automatic vehicles driving into the side of trucks or failing to stop, you must remember that when we first started to fly, we jumped off the side of barns. Now, some jumbo jets are able to land using their automatic pilot systems.

When deciding if you want to trust the safety of AV technology, look back at the history of automotive tech improvements and consider its track record. Seat belts and airbags save lives. Anti-lock braking systems save lives. Traction control reduced the number of rollovers. Lately, autonomous braking systems have avoided collisions at intersections.

When more vehicles use AV technology on the highway, you will see the number of high-speed accidents dramatically decrease.

 

Can my AV get hacked?

Yes, your future AV will rely on wireless communication and computers to track its position. Any cybersecurity expert will say that it will be possible to hack an autonomous vehicle. But that also applies to your smartphone, laptop, and any other piece of technology in your life. The manufacturers will continue to fight against this type of crime by constantly updating the security systems of your vehicle, just as they do for your current ride.

 

Keep Calm and Look to the Future: It’ll Be a Good Thing!

Ultimately, you get to decide if you want to get into a car that takes control out of your hands. However, if we were all still driving the equivalent of a Ford Model T on the streets of Huntington Beach, you would be seeing a lot more people die on the roads every single day. Over the past century, human beings have kept developing more reliable, efficient, and much safer transportation.

Autonomous vehicles will help ease traffic jams, avoid fender benders, and lower the stress associated with the morning drive. In another century, we may be looking at traffic accidents as something of an anomaly rather than the daily news that it is today.

 

Self-driving Cars for Sale in Huntington Beach

Would you like to see what all the buzz is about in person? Come visit the Beach Boulevard of Cars where you can find the latest self-driving technologies on rides like the 2024 Ford F-150, the 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV, and other select vehicles. Take one for a test drive today!

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