CALIFORNIA – Autonomous cars, equipped with advanced technology, are proving to be safer than human-driven vehicles. A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Central Florida in the United States has thoroughly analyzed accident data from 2,100 autonomous vehicles and 35,113 human-driven vehicles in California from 2016 to 2022, providing revealing results about road safety.
The researchers found that autonomous vehicles had significantly lower accident rates in various situations compared to human-driven vehicles. These results were particularly notable in work zones, traffic events, and during pre-accident movements such as decelerating and continuing straight.
However, autonomous cars showed certain difficulties when driving at dawn or dusk on winding roads. According to the report, these low-light conditions confuse the sensors of autonomous cars, making it difficult for them to execute turns correctly and choose the appropriate lane.
Challenging conditions, such as low visibility and winding roads, present unique challenges for autonomous vehicles. The study also highlighted that rear-end collisions were the most common accidents for both types of vehicles.
Nevertheless, human drivers cause these accidents more frequently than autonomous cars. Autonomous vehicles are more effective at avoiding these accidents due to their advanced sensors that can analyze the environment in real-time.
Despite the advantages, California has recorded some accidents involving autonomous cars. A notable example is the 2023 accident in San Francisco, where a distracted driver hit a pedestrian, who was then pushed into the path of an autonomous car that ran them over, according to media reports. As of June 11, 2024, the department had received 715 accident complaints involving autonomous cars.
Autonomous cars represent a significant evolution in road safety, although they face challenges in specific conditions. As technology continues to advance, we are likely to see greater adoption of autonomous vehicles and a continuous improvement in the safety of our roads.
