It has recently been announced driverless cars will be on UK public roads in January next year. There will be an 18-36 month trial, where three cities within the UK will have the opportunity to host the trials. The cars will be guided by a system of sensors and cameras, and has the potential to transform the UK’s transport network by improving safety, reducing congestion and lowing emissions.
Japan, Singapore and Germany have already started trials of driverless cars on their roads and Sweden will soon be next. In California, USA, the cars are now legal and have logged 700,000 miles.
Even though this is an exciting step in technology, people may be uncomfortable giving up control of their vehicle to a computer, as 65% of drivers still enjoy driving, and it will also involve changes to the Highway Code. Researchers in Oxford have now developed a vehicle which can be controlled using only an iPad.
Not only will the driverless vehicles have the ability of automatic braking, anti-lane drift and self-parking functions, which are currently available in today’s cars, but will also be able to take charge of steering, accelerating, indicating and braking during most, if not all of a journey.
This is a similar function to when aeroplanes are on autopilot, but down on the ground, there are much more hazards to be aware of. Attached to the driverless cars is a 360 degree camera which captures images, warning the car of pedestrians, cyclists, road works and other objects that might be in the vehicle's path.
What are your thoughts on driverless cars? Would you feel comfortable driving one? Let us know your thoughts.
Hope you all have a great weekend!
Roya
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