Self-Driving Vehicles and How They Will Change Our Lives

Self-driving vehicles are becoming a reality rather than just something out of science fiction. With advances in technology, new designs, and the push for safer driving, these self-driving vehicles are on our doorsteps. What do these changes mean for getting around? From safer roads to changed urban developments, self-driving vehicles will alter the way we commute and how we think of both personal and public modes of transportation.

Self-Driving Cars Explained

A self-driving car—otherwise referred to as an autonomous vehicle (AV)—is a vehicle that uses artificial intelligence (AI), cameras, sensors, and GPS systems to perceive the surroundings in order to drive autonomously without human involvement.

Their level of automation falls on a spectrum in a variety of ways, ranging from what are known as “driver-assistance systems” (adaptive cruise control) to totally autonomous cars that would require no human input. Autonomy is being pursued by many racing software and technology companies, including Tesla, Waymo, and General Motors.

The Benefits of Self-Driving Cars

1. Safety

Safety is the most important reason for developing self-driving cars in the first place. 94% of motor vehicle crashes happened due to human error (NHTSA). While autonomous cars can be developed with algorithms, sensors, and processing of data in real-time, they cannot be distracted, fatigued, or impaired.

2. More Accessible

Autonomous vehicles can be a game-changer for people who cannot drive themselves, such as seniors, disabled adopters, and children. Autonomous vehicles can allow much more independence and mobility to individuals who relied on someone else to drive them.

3. Diminished Traffic Congestion

The technological capabilities of self-driving vehicles will result in reduced congestion levels by changing the ways in which we travel. AV’s ability to route will create vehicles that create higher and more consistent speeds, reducing individual vehicular movement, and resulting in the elimination of typical ‘traffic jams’. AV’s will reduce periods of stop-go traffic during peak hours, fuel economy, and emissions – with every vehicle.

4. New Urban Landscapes

If autonomous vehicles reduce the need for parking renovation and shared-ride options become more widely available resource parcels of land, there would be a considerable amount of urban land freed up – currently being occupied by parking garages, and surface parking lots. This same urban land could then be repurposed for urban parks, housing, or commercial attractions.

Barriers to Self-Driving Vehicles

While self-driving vehicles are exciting, it should be noted that there are challenges that must come to fruition before organizations and individuals could realise autonomous vehicles in commonplace and “in the wild”.

1. The Cost of Self-Driving Vehicles

Autonomous vehicles are expensive to develop, manufacture, and maintain. Both the cost of devising a self-driving vehicle, and the challenge of proving the safety and reliability of this technological development is a barrier to adoption by organizations and individual consumers.

2. Legal and Ethics

If an autonomous vehicle is involved in a serious collision accident, how do you identify who is at fault? In the case of an autonomous vehicle, is the expectation to protect the passengers of the vehicle, or pedestrian(s) in the path of the accident? We have to openly acknowledge and find solutions to the ethical implications of receipts from an autonomous vehicle, before society accepts and begins adoption.

3. Public Trust

It will always be difficult for humans to accept that a machine now controls the vehicle you are in. There will always be some degree of concern and skepticism regarding autonomous driving; and much of this will have to be addressed, resolved, and evaluated before autonomous driving is accepted by human drivers.

Do Self-Driving Cars Exist?

If you are intrigued by self-driving vehicles, but the possible applications seem too far away to touch, then perhaps it is time to look at products currently available to the consumerIf you’re looking to take advantage of the newest technology in the automotive space without paying a premium price, places like KarKiosk are a great place to start.

At KarKiosk you have a way to engage people who want to buy and sell used cars, making all kinds of vehicles available to you with lots of different features including driver-assistance systems that will help transition you into a technology-enhanced driving experience.

What’s more, KarKiosk fosters an inviting, safe car-buying adventure with dynamic features such as history reports, inspections, and pricing measures. So whether you want the latest Tesla, a hybrid, or an SUV, KarKiosk can help you gain access to the car you want. Check out the vehicles here.

How Self Driving Cars are Transforming Industries

Self-driving technology goes deeper than personal transportation, it will shape other industries including logistics, delivery services, and public transit.

1. Logistics and Freight

Long haul trucking is ready to disrupt the logistics industry in that it can perform the deliveries on time, at a lower operating cost. Companies like TuSimple and Embark, and others, have been testing self-driving freight trucks on interstate highways, potentially filling the labor shortage we are currently experiencing.

2. Ridesharing Evolution

Uber and lyft are already examining an autonomous fleet. Self-driving vehicles will make ride-sharing more efficient and cost-effective, cutting out the cost of a human driver.

3. Delivery Services

The need for contactless delivery and services is growing and self-driving vehicles can fill that gap.Companies such as Nuro are developing smaller AV’s that are purposefully designed to deliver groceries and packages.

KarKiosk and Autonomous Driving Cooperation

Whether your next car is fully autonomous or not, many of today’s new cars come with life saving and foundational elements of autonomy such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic emergency braking. All of which are available at KarKiosk, where you can search and buy a multitude of cars equipped with these new driving technologies with autonomous driving characteristics.

By choosing a car equipped with these new driving technologies, you can experience a taste of the autonomous driving experience while being safe.

In addition to the innovations they offer to people who want to buy or sell cars for sale, KarKiosk offers digital tools such as thorough inspection service, secure messaging tools, and competitive pricing on vehicles statewide to give you a smooth, safe, and transparent purchasing experience. Whether it’s a traditional car or one with semi-autonomous features, KarKiosk is committed to streamlining the process for you. Read more here.

Moving Forward: The Future of Self-Driving Cars

There is no doubt amongst those in the industry that fully autonomous cars will eventually reach the marketplace — it is no longer a matter of “if” but “when”. It is estimated by experts that the global demand for self-driving vehicles will increase continuously from approximately $60 billion in 2026 to an approximate $600 billion by 2035.

Once AI-fuelled cars are commonplace and 5G technology is deployed, it is likely that people will become dependent on these types of transportation solutions.

This can be an exciting time for both businesses and consumers to transform the way we think about mobility. While we wait for the future to unfold, making small steps such as procuring vehicles equipped with new safety features is a great place to start.

In Closing

Self-driving cars can transform the automotive and our way of life. Whether it be safety, efficiency, accessibility, or new mobility innovation, the future of autonomous cars is bright. Until fully autonomous mobility becomes more commonplace, KarKiosk can help get your innovation today with advanced vehicles for today’s needs.

Looking to explore? Visit KarKiosk and search for a vehicle to promote your driving today, or list your vehicle for others to enjoy. Your next ride is literally just a click away!