Innovation excites us at Lighthouse Express Car Wash and when it comes to cutting edge technology this is not an exception. Sometimes though, some of the technological advancements can seem, dare we say, almost too over the top, like as if it was straight out of a science fiction movie. Lately, it seems more of the upcoming technology being presented by companies such as google and apple can be a little unnerving to some. Here are 7 reasons why driverless cars could be a little scary.
1. They may be used for terrorism and help criminals.
Some researchers, including IHS Automotive, have warned that the technology of autonomous vehicles could be hacked by criminals to override safety features. Most alarming was a report in the Guardian detailing how the FBI fears terrorists might try to hijack the cars and use them as weapons.
2. They may bankrupt cop budgets
Police departments across the country, especially smaller ones, often depend on the income they gather from ticketing motorists. In fact, about 41 million people a year are hit with speeding tickets, with more than $6.2 billion in fines, according to statistics gathered by the U.S. Highway Patrol.
But if self-driving cars don’t make highway mistakes — developers expect them to be able to eventually detect stop lights, speed limits and other road warnings — then tickets for running red lights and going too fast could become obsolete. It’s unclear how this could fully affect law enforcement, but there have been various reports over the years linking a department’s budget to ticket revenue.
3. Glitches may turn them into zombie cars
There’s always the chance that a glitch in the vehicle’s complex sensors could lead to accidents, deaths and other problems. A malfunctioning robot car could end up lurching down a highway aimlessly or, worse, plow into another vehicle or pedestrians.
4. People will trick them out to be hotel suites on wheels
The Rand report also poses that once the fatigue of driving is erased from the equation, people may opt to travel farther – and with all the comforts of home. “Autonomous cars may shift users’ preferences toward larger vehicles to permit other activities,” says the report. “In theory, this could even include beds, showers, kitchens or offices.”
5. Kiss car romance goodbye – no one will love them
Americans have always put their cars on pedestals, admiring and pampering them. But if robot cars are mass-produced under strict performance and design guidelines, each one looking just like the next, then where’s the lyricism, the romance?
Automotive analysts have long pointed out that many car lovers find one or a few models to obsess over, with their infatuation growing stronger over the years. Would they be so devoted to driverless vehicles that are more likely to be as anonymous as they are autonomous?
6. They will kill the classic road trip genre
The fabled “road trip” may also lose its special appeal when friends who usually share time behind the wheel are expected to become passive passengers in a driverless universe. Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” doesn’t sound as charismatic re-imagined as “In the Backseat,” suggests the Rand report.
7. People won’t own cars anymore
Some industry watchers believe autonomous cars will provide a new model of transportation that will give people little incentive to own their own vehicle. “Under this ‘Uber’ like scenario, the same autonomous vehicle could be called upon for the morning commute by a number of individuals with laddered arrivals, while the vehicle could remain ‘on duty’ for errands during the day as needed by others
source credit: Strawn & Co, Insurance
What do you think? Are these possible outcomes consistent with reality or are they far fetched hosh posh? Feel free to let us know in the comments below! And of course, if you found this article interesting please share.
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