BY JELANI DANIEL
Self-driving cars, also known as autonomous cars, have an anticipated launch this summer, according to Emily Chung of CBC News. She continues with some of the benefits and downfalls such cars will have on everyday life, transit hurdles and finally, the economy.
AN OVERVIEW
There are a number of benefits that range from having little to no need to park, to having convenient pickups and drop offs for you and your family. Although there are many positive aspects of autonomous cars, they may change the way drivers view driving as well as the way cities and the economy functions.
IMPACTS ON OUR CITY
Cities are designed for community driving, as well as shopping and entertainment. Housing and parking are two aspects that are staples to most people, but strangely enough, parking may be a thing of the past.
Emily continues, noting that unused reserves of land that are made into parking lots may not be viable if autonomous cars are used. Parking will not be a staple for a self-driving car, it can simply drive home then pick you up when you are done your meeting or schooling.
Although this seems like a very positive aspect for the environment and for high-paying parking customers, it could threaten the parking industry, as well as the taxi driver workforce. Even emerging taxi hybrid industries like Uber may be threatened. If your car will drive you on demand for free, why would you use a taxi? Which brings me to my next point; the economy.
THE IMPACT TO OUR ECONOMY
Having self-driving cars may be a great idea for those who wish to minimize risk while driving, but what about those who rely on driving for a living? Truck drivers may have little use other than to monitor the vehicle in rare cases of disruptions during deliveries. A whole industry of postal delivery workers and dispatch operators may face the biggest hit, leaving a pool of people without work and without resources.
INSURING INSURANCE
Many insurance companies are blind to the idea of self-driving cars, thinking the technology will have many years before implementation. Sadly for the industry, the technology is present and Google has pushed for such advancements for many years. Traditional insurance firms are simply looking away all while having little to no understanding of the impact such cars will have on their future. With limited accidents, there will be no claims and without claims, there will be no work.
It seems the self-driving car as a concept or used in certain markets is a viable tool for advancing technology, but as a regular method of transportation, it seems to pose a large danger to the economy. If there are self-driving cars, but so few potential customers due to job loss, is it really a smart risk to take?
Readers, what do you think?
