Autonomous Driving Is Already Here

Lately you can’t turn on the TV or browse the Internet without seeing or hearing the latest buzz about autonomous driving. Whether you’re a fan of self-driving cars or a car enthusiast that physically shivers when thinking about handing over the wheel, the reality is autonomous driving already exists.

No, I’m not saying your Porsche can drive itself, while you ride to work in the passenger seat multi-tasking. Nor am I referring to the Google self -driving cars that are hitting the highways in California and beyond. I’m talking about advanced safety features you may already have on your current vehicle.

Features like Lane Keep Assist; Rear Cross Traffic Alert; Adaptive Cruise Control where sensors adjust vehicle speed based on distance and apply brakes when needed; Automatic Emergency Braking; Active Blind Spot Assist, and more are already available and help reduce human error. Think of these safety features as building blocks for cars that will actually drive themselves. According to a recent Fortune magazine article, there were 6 million automotive crashes in the United States in 2010 which led to approximately 33,000 traffic deaths. Ninety-three percent of those crashes were caused by human error.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not ready to surrender my spot in the driver’s seat just yet. Sure, I want new technology that reduces accidents and fatalities, but I also want to experience the roads. I’m excited to have technology that can save me time searching for a parking spot, or park the car for me, but as for driving those winding roads and navigating the coastal highway, I still want to have my foot on the pedal.

Are you ready to retire your keys and trust your commute to a self-driving car, or does your passion for driving outweigh the benefits of autonomous driving?

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