Autonomous Driving Systems Fall Short in Testing
According to a recent study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), there is no evidence to suggest that autopilot or other assisted driving systems are beneficial for improving safety on the road. The research, based on accident data, found that more advanced systems do not actually reduce crashes.
IIHS President David Harkey stated that while advanced driving systems may not contribute to overall safety, there is evidence to suggest that automatic emergency braking systems can significantly reduce rear-end collisions by 50 percent and the number of pedestrian-related accidents by 30 percent.
On the other hand, Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed that vehicles equipped with autopilot engaged are approximately 10 times safer than the US average and five times safer than Tesla vehicles without active driving technology. However, regulatory authorities in the US are currently investigating nearly a thousand accidents involving Tesla’s autopilot system.
In the IIHS research, 14 assisted driving systems from nine different automobile manufacturers were evaluated according to their own set of standards since the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does not have official standards for advanced driver assistance systems.
As the debate over the safety benefits of autopilot and assisted driving systems continues, it is clear that further research and regulation may be necessary to ensure the safety of all drivers on the road.
