From a personal injury perspective, recovering damages after a collision involving a self-driving vehicle can be more complicated than after a collision with a conventional car. If you or someone you love were injured in such an accident, a lawyer near you can help you explore relevant self-driving car statistics.
These can include accidents, insurance coverage, and more. The lawyer who represents you will also assign an accurate monetary value to your injuries, related expenses, property damage, pain and suffering, and more. Your lawyer will explain the difference in establishing and assigning liability in accidents with self-driving cars.
The Number of Self-Driving Cars on the Road Today
According to TechCrunch research, more than 1,400 self-driving vehicles are being test-driven in the U.S. today. In addition, Policy Advice research indicates an anticipated increase in that number that is expected to reach more than 33 million by the year 2040.
Self-driving and autonomous vehicles are:
- Being tested by more than 80 companies
- 62 of these companies are located in California
- Being tested in 36 states and the District of Columbia (D.C.)
The majority of small businesses — about 55% — anticipate using self-driving fleets in the next 20 years. Conversely, the majority of people — about 75% — prefer conventional to self-driving vehicles.
The Increasing Use of Vehicle Technology
Self-driving cars may seem futuristic to many, but they have actually evolved over a number of years as technology and cars have been working in tandem. Per National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) research, the timeline of development includes:
- 1950 to 2000 introduced safety features including cruise control, driver and passenger restraints, and antilock braking systems
- 2000 to 2010 introduced enhancements including electronic stabilization and forward collision and lane departure warnings
- 2010 to 2016 introduced features that aid drivers including rearview cameras, pedestrian detection, and lane drifting alerts
- 2016 to 2025 introduced partial automation including adaptive cruise control and traffic jam alerts
This timeline indicates the gradual progression of vehicle technology from momentary driver assistance to comprehensive full vehicle automation. Fully automated safety features are anticipated by the year 2025.
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Accidents Involving Self-Driving Cars
Research from AI Multiple cites the first fatal accident involving a self-driving car occurred in 2018 when a pedestrian was struck by a rideshare vehicle. This fatality is attributed to the car’s sensors failing to detect the pedestrian until less than six seconds before the accident occurred.
Additional self-driving car accidents include:
- 2016: Autonomous SUV versus bus collision
- 2016 to 2019: Two accidents resulting in driver fatality
- 2019 to 2020: 18 minor accidents from a single manufacturer
The rideshare company involved in the fatal accident was also involved in 37 accidents prior to that one.
Self-Driving Car Mileage
In general, self-driving vehicles are involved in more, not fewer, accidents per mile driven. Overall:
- Conventional vehicles average one fatal accident per 94 million miles in the U.S.
- Tesla reports more than 130 million miles driven prior to its first fatal accident.
- Autonomous vehicles average about nine accidents per million miles.
- Conventional vehicles average about four accidents per million miles.
Accidents involving self-driving vehicles, though, are typically minor and result in less seriously injured parties than accidents involving conventional cars.
Public Opinion on Self-Driving Vehicles
While self-driving and autonomous vehicles are purported to improve safety and are expected to increase in use, their perception by the public is an important factor in that anticipated number.
Public opinion polls indicate:
- 22% of pollsters see self-driving cars as safer than conventional.
- 35% of pollsters see conventional cars as safer than autonomous.
- 16% of pollsters are highly likely to ride in a self-directing car.
- A U.S. News report, though, cites 57% of consumers as willing to.
- 28% of pollsters are highly unlikely to do so.
Nearly half (49%) of consumers are concerned about the possibility of having their vehicles hacked. Currently reported barriers to the adoption of self-driving vehicles are security hacks (73%) and overall system security hacks (72%).
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Public Perception
The COVID-19 pandemic wrought change all over the world. It also influenced the way the public views the use of self-driving cars as follows:
- 26% of pollsters are more willing to view self-driving automation as beneficial.
- 49% of pollsters are somewhat or fully in favor of autonomous delivery options.
Of the 100,000 automated taxi rides offered in Las Vegas, the vast majority (98%) received five-star approval ratings.
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If you or someone you love were injured in an accident with a self-driving vehicle, you could be entitled to financial compensation. Our personal injury team will explore self-driving car statistics, accident statistics, and insurance coverage that will compensate you for your injuries and related expenses.
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