Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) are capable of operating without direct human control. These vehicles utilise AI and machine learning algorithms, coupled with an array of sensors including cameras, radar, and LiDAR, to perceive and navigate their environment. While some cities like San Francisco have introduced self-driving taxi services, safety concerns persist due to incidents involving both autonomous and human-driven vehicles sharing the road. Proponents argue that a fully autonomous transportation system could significantly reduce accidents by eliminating human error. However, the transition period, where AVs and traditional vehicles coexist, presents unique challenges that need to be addressed to ensure public safety and acceptance.
As of 2024, fully autonomous vehicles are not yet legal for unsupervised use on UK roads.
Lidar and Radar
Lidar is expensive and is still trying to strike the right balance between range and resolution. If multiple autonomous cars were to drive on the same road, would their lidar signals interfere with one another? And if multiple radio frequencies are available, will the frequency range be enough to support mass production of autonomous cars?
Weather Conditions
What happens when an autonomous car drives ****in heavy precipitation? If there’s a layer of snow on the road, lane dividers disappear. How will the cameras and sensors track lane markings if the markings are obscured by water, oil, ice, or debris?
Traffic Conditions and Laws
Will autonomous cars have trouble in tunnels or on bridges? How will they do in bumper-to-bumper traffic? Will autonomous cars be relegated to a specific lane? Will they be granted carpool lane access? And what about the fleet of legacy cars still sharing the roadways for the next 20 or 30 years?
State vs. Federal Regulation
The regulatory process in the U.S. has recently shifted from federal guidance to state-by-state mandates for autonomous cars. Some states have even proposed a per-mile tax on autonomous vehicles to prevent the rise of “zombie cars” driving around without passengers. Lawmakers have also written bills proposing that all autonomous cars must be zero-emission vehicles and have a panic button installed. But are the laws going to be different from state to state? Will you be able to cross state lines with an autonomous car?
Accident Liability
Who is liable for accidents caused by an autonomous car? The manufacturer? The human passenger? The latest blueprints suggest that a fully autonomous Level 5 car will not have a dashboard or a steering wheel, so a human passenger would not even have the option to take control of the vehicle in an emergency.