Autonomous vehicles for public transport are becoming news now. A lot of countries including the USA, Switzerland, and the Netherlands are considering it seriously. However, there are two sides to this coin, especially insofar it pertains to the general public.

The Benefits

The biggest benefit is a lower risk of accidents caused by human errors. Approximately 1.2 million people die because of road accidents every year, out of which 90% are due to human error. Driver-related issues like lack of attention while driving, high speed, ill-timed maneuvers, lack of control on dangerous roads and so on can be curbed immediately.

Also, accidents due to alcohol-impaired driving can be avoided. Self-driving vehicles follow fixed routes and travel efficiently. Public transport that has been computerized can help in reducing traffic congestion by a lot. Safer public transport means lesser vehicles on road.

The Dangers

The technology has developed but it is not at a stage where it can be free of bugs. Autonomous vehicles pose some serious issues like extreme weather conditions, for example, heavy rains or snow. Moreover, computerized vehicles cannot read hand signals. They are most likely to hit a cyclist trying to change the lane because they cannot judge by the hand signal or body language.

These vehicles also don’t recognize actions performed during traffic control by traffic police. The automatic vehicles are also vulnerable to hacking. This could mean danger for all the passengers.

The future

Self-driving public transport does seem attractive and has a lot of advantages, but it is not free of problems. The cons are too risky. It still needs evolving before it can arrive on the streets. However, the technology is improved every day. It is not expected to be long before it is implemented and driverless buses are rolling on the streets.