Breaking Down Myths About Self-Driving Cars

While autonomous vehicles might seem like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, they are not some distant fantasy. In reality, some are already operating on American roads, and there have been years of research and development involved in the programming, safety, and function of these vehicles. 

Common misconceptions of autonomous vehicles can give the public the wrong impression about safety. Here, we debunked some common myths to help you better understand autonomous vehicles. 

Myth #1: Self-driving cars can easily get hacked.

Fact: The truth is that driverless cars have robust, redundant, localized systems that are not reliant on Wi-Fi or other more easily hackable systems. Autonomous vehicles are designed to safely stop if systems are not operating correctly. 

Myth #2: Autonomous vehicles mean the end of personal car ownership.

Fact: In 2021, global car sales grew to 66.7 million automobiles from 63.8 million cars in 2020. These sales won’t stop overnight. No fully autonomous vehicles are currently available for personal ownership, and leading autonomous vehicle companies are today focused on ride-hail and trucking industries. Some drivers may find that a manually operated vehicle is more realistic for their needs than a self-driving vehicle. It is expected that autonomous and non-autonomous vehicles will exist alongside each other. 

Myth #3: Autonomous vehicles prioritize convenience over safety.

Fact: Based on data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, self-driving cars could make significant improvements in reducing roadway accidents that occur today because of driving errors, distracted drivers, or poor roadway design. Autonomous vehicles, and the computer systems and sensors that drive them, do not get distracted or impaired as human drivers do and can provide a more consistent driving approach across day and nighttime light levels.