TIME magazine recently released an article regarding a study which found that self-driving cars are more accident prone than cars driven by humans. The study, done by researchers Brandon Schoettle and Michael Sivak at the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute, found that self-driving cars are involved in car accidents five times more than human-controlled cars.
The study retrieved data from self-driving cars operated by Google, Delphi and Volkswagen. For more information on these companies and their self-driving car experiments, read our previous blog posts.
Google commented that the accidents it's self-driving cars have been involved in were the results of human error. None of Google's cars were involved in serious head-on collision type accidents. Still, the data illustrates that most of the self-driving cars involved in crashes were hit in the rear, even when traveling as slow as 5 mph.
Annual Global Road Crash Statistics found nearly 1.3 million people have died in road crashes each year. Breaking that number down results in an average of 3,287 deaths a day. An additional 20-50 million people are injured or disabled in automobile accidents, every year. Even more informative is that fact that more than half of all road traffic deaths occur among young adults ages 15-44.
As new drivers are minted every day, it is vital that safe driving practices are implemented. Perhaps in the future, all teens will be behind the wheel of a self-driving car. In the meanwhile, if you are ever involved in any type of car accident, call The Michigan Law Firm, PLLC. Our attorneys are highly experienced in dealing with all types of personal injury accidents, especially automobile crashes. We will work to ensure you obtain all benefits you are entitled to under Michigan law. Call us today at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.