After commenting earlier this week on Sainsbury's high-tech lorries, I was interested to read the news that driverless car trials are set to take place from January 2015. The cars, which will be guided by a system of sensors and cameras, will be driven on public roads in a series of trials over an 18-36 month period.
Driverless cars are already used in places such as Japan, America and Sweden but an AA/Populus survey showed that 43% of AA members did not think that even trials of the technology should be allowed.
For my part, I am all for technological advances and I can see the advantages such as being able to read or get on with work whilst on a long commute, just as I might do if I were to take the train.
I do have to confess that I think I would find it difficult to give up control of my vehicle to a computer and allow a computer to determine the appropriate speed for the driving conditions and layout of the road ahead me. I also wonder how a computer would deal with sudden changes such as a pedestrian stepping out in front of the car, or another car on the road making a sudden stop or change of direction. Equally, if the computer makes a mistake and causes a crash, is the driver – who hasn't actually been driving the car – responsible or is it the hardware and software within the car?
I will certainly be interested to see the outcome of the trials and whether the UK then starts to embrace a move towards driverless cars.
If you have any questions about making a personal injury claim, please contact our specialist Personal Injury team on 0800 731 8434.
