Only 2 Accidents Involving Driverless Cars In April

Connecticut is one of several states considering the changes to rules and legislation required in order to allow driverless cars on the road. One of the foundations of this movement has been the remarkably clear self-reporting provided by manufacturers of autonomous vehicles.

Google has reported that in April 2016 there were two incidents involving their self-driving vehicles. However, neither were serious, and there were no injuries. This is remarkable when the fact that Google’s vehicles are on the road nearly around the clock is considered.

In neither of these accidents were the driverless vehicles found to be at fault. The damage to the cars was characterized as minor in both instances. Although there is still room for improvement, most industry observers agree that this represented positive progress and an excellent safety record. The company has said that it intends to start testing minivan prototypes in the future. Its fleet currently has driven in excess of 1.5 million miles since testing began in 2009.

It has been widely stated that most motor vehicle accidents are caused by a negligent driver. The prospect of the widespread availability of autonomous vehicles is exciting to those who believe that the number of serious collisions will drop dramatically as a result. Until that day comes, however, car wrecks will still be caused by impaired, distracted or speeding motorists, and a person who is injured in one will often face the need for lengthy and expensive medical treatment. An attorney could assist such a victim in seeking compensation for those and other losses through a personal injury lawsuit.

Source: Tech Times, “Google Self-Driving Car Had Two Accidents in April, Reveals Monthly Report”, Horia Ungureanu, May 7, 2016