Self-driving cars are safe and less prone to collisions than human-operated vehicles, research shows. Researchers have found that self-driving cars are less likely to accelerate sharply or brake suddenly than human drivers are, and they also are less likely to drive too closely to other vehicles. Self-driving cars might also be safer, because an estimated 40% of all vehicle accidents in the US are the result of unsafe driver conditions, such as distraction, fatigue or being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
More about self-driving cars:
- It is estimated that replacing 10% of the vehicles in the US with self-driving cars would save approximately $37 billion US Dollars (USD) each year because of lowered accident rates and reduced fuel consumption.
- The first self-driving cars are projected to cost about $100,000 USD, or about five times as much as the average new vehicle.
- About 75% of drivers believe they could drive a vehicle more safely than a self-driving car could, according to one poll.