According to Google, Inc., self-driving cars are the new wave of future transportation. Google has been testing prototype cars for more than six years, mostly near Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, California. Testing has now expanded to other areas of the United States as well. Currently, there are more than 20 cars on the road. Collectively, these cars have logged more than 1.9 million miles since the beginning of the project. Today, these cars cover about 10,000 miles a week. (A typical American drives about 10,000 miles in a year.)
“Google has invested heavily as a pioneer of self-driving cars; technology it believes will be safer and more efficient than human drivers.” – sacbee.com
Unfortunately, these cars are not invincible. Most recently, Google reported that one of their Lexus SUV prototypes was involved in its first injury accident. According the report filed by Google with the California DMV, Google’s SUV was going about 15 mph in self-driving mode. It stopped at an intersection and was rear-ended by a car travelling at about 17 mph. Three Google employees were on board and complained of neck and back pain after the accident. None of the injuries were life-threatening.
“This was the 14th accident in six years and about 1.9 million miles of testing, according to the company. Google has said that its cars have not caused any of the collisions — though in 2011 an employee who took a car to run an errand rear-ended another vehicle while the Google car was out of self-driving mode.” – www.sacbee.com
If these cars start infiltrating our city streets and highways, will the roads really be safer? According to Chris Urmson, Google’s head of self-driving car program, these cars compare favorably to human drivers. He says most accidents are the result of human error and distracted drivers. In fact, of the 14 accidents involving one of Google’s self-driving cars, 11 of them were the result of being rear-ended.
Currently, the risk of being involved in a collision with a self-driving car is low, but if these cars prove themselves worthy, they could be on the open road very soon. Legally, an accident with a self-driving car could prove challenging. Who’s at fault? What if the self-driving car malfunctions while in use? These are the questions Google and lawmakers will have to address. At Eason & Tambornini, A Law Corporation, our experienced lawyers stay up-to-date on any new information about self-driving cars and any laws that may affect drivers. If you have questions about self-driving cars or possible liability in a car accident, contact us today.
