# The Health and Societal Implications of a Self-Driving City in 2018
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2018-04-04
Category: TECHNOLOGY
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/technology
Meta Title: The Reality of Self-Driving Cars: Health and Society Implications
Meta Description: Discover the potential risks and benefits of autonomous vehicles and how they could shape our future cities. Is the promise of safer roads and greener
URL: https://financedigest.com/the-health-and-societal-implications-of-a-self-driving-city-in-2018html

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Self-driving cars are no longer just a distant dream in the future: Waymo, Uber, Apple and more are already testing their cars in American cities.

The next step? A self-driving city. Whilst the benefits are often highlighted, there are other possible implications on health and the wider society. Here, [CAT Autokeys](https://www.catautokeys.co.uk/) discusses these issues, and how an overreliance on [autonomous](https://www.financedigest.com/the-future-of-autonomous-vehicles-and-the-automotive-industry.html) driving technology could affect productivity, safety and the environment.

**A Brief History of** [Autonomous Cars](https://www.financedigest.com/impact-of-covid-19-outbreak-on-autonomous-car-market.html "Impact Of Covid-19 Outbreak On Autonomous Car Market")

Believe it or not, Ford was the pioneer of this technology, when it championed the idea of autonomous [driving back](https://www.financedigest.com/investors-go-back-to-basics-with-simpler-self-driving-vehicles.html "Investors go back to basics with simpler self-driving vehicles") in 2005 at the DARPA Grand Challenge.

However, it’s Google’s journey that’s been the most publicised: launching its self-driving car project back in 2009, between them, their self-driving cars (now under the name of [Waymo](https://waymo.com/)) have driven over two million miles autonomously.

Waymo is [currently testing](https://www.financedigest.com/stability-test-chamber-market-2019-scope-of-current-and-future-industry-2027.html "Stability Test Chamber Market 2019 | Scope of Current and Future Industry 2027") cars in Phoenix, Arizona – the same state where Uber is testing theirs (having moved from their Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania base). Apple, although late to the game, is also testing [autonomous](https://www.financedigest.com/the-future-of-autonomous-vehicles-and-the-automotive-industry.html) cars in California.

The benefits that self-driving [cars will supposedly bring have been widely reported](https://www.financedigest.com/credit-agricole-is-weighing-foray-into-german-car-sharing-media-report.html "Credit Agricole is weighing foray into German car-sharing: media report"). Before a fully self-driving city is achieved, there will be a period of transition, where robotaxis will be introduced, predicted to [cut urban car ownership by 70%](https://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21737501-policymakers-must-apply-lessons-horseless-carriage-driverless-car-self-driving) by 2050.

However, until the day a self-driving city is reached, how will we [know if the benefits](https://www.financedigest.com/the-benefits-of-purchasing-fractional-shares-you-should-know.html "The Benefits of Purchasing Fractional Shares You Should Know") are true? What if there’s a darker side, with [autonomous](https://www.financedigest.com/the-future-of-autonomous-vehicles-and-the-automotive-industry.html) [cars bringing safety](https://www.financedigest.com/rising-concerns-towards-safety-of-child-are-expected-to-drive-demand-for-baby-car-seat-market.html "Rising Concerns Towards Safety Of Child Are Expected To Drive Demand For Baby Car Seat Market"), environmental and productivity risks and implications?

![The benefits that self-driving cars will supposedly bring have been widely reported](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/the-benefits-that-self-driving-cars-will-supposedly-bring-have-been-widely-reported-1736842860520-compressed.jpg)

**Are Self-Driving Cars Actually That Safe?**

It’s been cited that self-driving cars will help to drastically reduce the [1.3 million road fatalities](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-27/just-how-safe-is-driverless-car-technology-really-quicktake) that are caused worldwide every year. After all, 94% of crashes are [due to human error](https://www.financedigest.com/amazons-twitch-hit-by-data-breach-due-to-configuration-error.html "Amazon’s Twitch hit by data breach due to configuration error").

However, driverless cars have recently claimed their first victim. [Following a fatal crash](https://money.cnn.com/2018/03/26/technology/arizona-suspends-uber-self-driving-cars/index.html) where a pedestrian was struck and killed in Tempe by a driverless car, Arizona has suspended Uber’s self-driving car tests.

As the victim slowly crossed the road, not even the brakes were pressed, crashing into her at forty miles an hour. This raises the question of whether self-driving cars are actually as safe as they’ve been made out to be.

The truth is, right now, driverless car technology can sometimes struggle to distinguish between pedestrians and inanimate objects such as poles or [plastic bags](https://www.financedigest.com/sales-of-disposable-plastic-blood-bag-market-to-be-significantly-influenced-by-rising-consumer-adoption.html "Sales of Disposable Plastic Blood Bag Market to be Significantly Influenced by Rising Consumer Adoption") that fly into the road.

However, referring back to the crash in Tempe: footage shows that the human safety [driver wasn’t looking at the road leading up to the crash](https://www.financedigest.com/tesla-reports-two-new-fatal-crashes-involving-driver-assistance-systems.html "Tesla reports two new fatal crashes involving driver assistance systems"), which potentially prevented her from pressing the breaks before it was too late.

If 94% of crashes are human error, then technically driverless [cars](https://www.financedigest.com/volvo-cars-sales-up-31-in-may.html) are safer. However, unless the technology can always understand the difference between a person and an inanimate object, then there will always be risk of an accident.

**The Impact of Self-Driving Cars on the Environment**

Another major benefit that’s often publicised, is the positive effect driverless cars will have on the environment.

The [cars that are currently being test-driven are all electric](https://www.financedigest.com/volkswagen-boosts-electric-car-investment-in-spain-to-10-billion-euros.html "Volkswagen boosts electric car investment in Spain to 10 billion euros"), which reduces emissions. Not only that, but automated [technology will put a stop to sudden braking and excessive](https://www.financedigest.com/coca-cola-digital-ad-campaigns-use-seenthis-streaming-technology-to-avoid-excessive-carbon-footprint.html "Coca-Cola Digital Ad Campaigns Use SeenThis Streaming Technology to Avoid Excessive Carbon Footprint") re-accelerating, which will further reduce air pollution.

Some people are also claiming that self-driving [cars](https://www.financedigest.com/volvo-cars-sales-up-31-in-may.html) will reduce congestion in cities, but this isn’t necessarily true. Sure, if driverless cities feature automated carpools or public transport, then that will reduce the number of cars on the road; and it can also help people be more productive. In Oslo, the council is looking at autonomous buses, but are reluctant to allow self-driving cars to enter the city–which makes sense, as they’re currently taking [steps to reduce the number of traditional cars](https://www.financedigest.com/volvo-cars-to-axe-1300-jobs-as-it-steps-up-cost-cuts.html "Volvo Cars to axe 1,300 jobs as it steps up cost cuts") from entering the centre of the Norwegian capital.

However, if autonomous cars are as convenient and cost-effective to run as they’re made out to be, then that could [result in more people](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-pm-sunak-election-results-show-people-want-us-to-deliver-for-them.html "UK PM Sunak: Election results show people want us to deliver for them") purchasing them. If there’s more cars on the road, then naturally congestion will rise.

![The Impact of Self-Driving Cars on the Environment](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/the-impact-of-self-driving-cars-on-the-environment-1736842860556-compressed.jpg)

**Should Health Experts Influence Access to Self-Driving Cars?**

As we’ve [witnessed over the years](https://www.financedigest.com/global-automotive-brake-system-market-is-expected-to-witness-a-rise-of-3-cagr-between-the-forecast-years-of-2020-2030.html "Global Automotive Brake System Market is expected to witness a rise of 3% CAGR between the forecast years of 2020-2030"), if new technology is introduced, then we have to use it. The internet, smartphones, digital assistants…

When we talk about safety of driverless cars: we refer to the number of accidents they directly cause. Yet cars – driverless or not – indirectly cause death, through pollution (which is directly linked to lung disease), and the fact that it promotes an inactive lifestyle – instead of driving, you could be walking or cycling. In fact, 90% of negative health impact from cars are directly related to the lack of physical activity, and long periods of sitting.

Driverless [cars won’t reduce these factors](https://www.financedigest.com/car-bulb-market-demand-supply-growth-factors-latest-rising-trend-and-forecast-to-2028.html "Car Bulb Market Demand, Supply, Growth Factors, Latest Rising Trend and Forecast to 2028"), and it’s argued that for that reason, health experts should have a heavier influence on who is allowed to have access to self-driving cars. If there is a chance to promote a healthier lifestyle along with the introduction of [autonomous vehicles](https://www.financedigest.com/autonomous-vehicles-market-emerging-growth-analysis-future-demand-and-business-opportunities-2026.html "Autonomous Vehicles Market Emerging Growth Analysis, Future Demand and Business Opportunities 2026"), then surely consulting the experts will help to increase this likelihood.

It’s clear to see that we still have a long way to go until we achieve a self-driving city, and until that day happens, we won’t know the true advantages and disadvantages for sure. For all of those who are in favour of autonomous vehicles, others aren’t so sure: a survey found only [15% of Americans would prefer autonomous vehicles](https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2018/01/autonomous-vehicles-consumer-backlash/549650/) to one that they can drive themselves; and [Paris has banned self-driving cars](https://www.dezeen.com/2017/09/12/paris-deputy-mayor-questions-london-approach-skyscrapers-public-space/) from entering the city.

Our advice is to take these predictions with a pinch of salt, and remember there’s a flipside to the advantages.


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