Professors say autonomous tech will bring ‘new ability’ to society
By Sabine Galvis | State Press
Following the fatal accident involving a self-driving Uber and a pedestrian on March 18, ASU experts said that autonomous technology is likely to continue developing but with an eye for more safety measures.
The accident raised questions about the future and safety of autonomous technology and is currently under investigation by Tempe Police.
Andrew Maynard, a professor who focuses on risk innovation in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society, said that despite the recent accident, human-driven cars pose a greater risk to safety than autonomous cars do.
“Even though we are quite in love with our cars, it’s actually quite a dangerous combination – humans who are not perfect with 4,000 pounds of metal and plastic,” Maynard said. “This is why we have nearly 40,000 road fatalities a year with car crashes.”
Maynard said that if autonomous technology can be significantly improved, scientists hope to see a reduction in the number of traffic-related accidents.
“If we can actually create vehicles that can safely and effectively drive themselves, there are a number of things we can do,” Maynard said. “If it’s developed correctly, the technology can be far better than a human at detecting what’s around it and taking appropriate action.”
