A new study also finds reason to believe that self-driving cars will make everyone nicer and generally more affable that any point in human history since the advent of the car.
Can't we all just get along?
Once self-driving cars take the wheel, World Peace might become a reality, according to a highly-anticipated study released recently by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The study gathered safety records for existing autonomous vehicle pilot projects, predicted data from systems models used to program the self-driving fleets at Google, Tesla, and Uber, and surveyed thousands of users across demographics of age, location, and race. The result of the study produced a startling conclusion: self-driving cars have a 70 percent chance of bringing about a new era of humankind, define by the peaceful coexistence of people of all races, income levels, and age groups.
"Basically that when you subtract out the many inefficiencies and errors of the current transportation system, as well as the psychological effects of navigating the system on its users, you redefine the entire human race," said Dr. T. Hank Goodness in a prepared statement at a press conference announcing the study. "Better late than never?" asked a noticeably smug Dr. Goodness.
The potential benefit of autonomous vehicles for traffic safety and congestion relief have been the subject of many studies and media analyses since the self-driving technology first hit the roads. But the IIHS study is the first to also attempt to quantify the larger impact of those improvements to the entire human race.
Not every one is sold on the potential benefits of self-driving cars, however. Representatives from a coalition of auto insurance companies, concerned about the potential obsolescence of their business model in a future defined by efficiency and teamwork, released a joint statement countering the study's findings. "The 30 percent chance self-driving cars will not bring about World Peace is the most likely 30 percent ever," reads the statement. "Transportation will never be a rational system as long as human beings are involved, even if they're not driving the cars."
FULL STORY: Study: Self-Driving Cars Likely to Restore 70% of Lost Faith in Humanity
No Demand for 'Defensive Driving' Mode in Self-Driving Cars
General Motors recently cancelled development of "Defensive Driving" software in its autonomous vehicle program. The announcement came just days after Ford announced it had cancelled the development of similar "Safe Driving" software.
Broadband as Critical Transportation Infrastructure
The future of mobility depends on having a comprehensive, nationwide broadband network capable of supporting new transportation technologies and regulatory needs.
Editorial Calls for Tesla to Follow Same 'Self-Driving' Testing Rules as Everyone Else
While dozens of companies are following state-mandated regulations for autonomous vehicle testing, Tesla has managed to avoid the same rules. It's time for regulators to step in, according to the Los Angeles Times Editorial Board.
Planning for Congestion Relief
The third and final installment of Planetizen's examination of the role of the planning profession in both perpetuating and solving traffic congestion.
Minneapolis Housing Plan a Success—Not for the Reason You Think
Housing advocates praise the city’s move to eliminate single-family zoning by legalizing triplexes on single-family lots, but that isn’t why housing construction is growing.
Car Noise Is Killing Us
It’s not just traffic collisions that kill—a new study from researcher at Rutgers finds that the loud noises emanating from cars has direct impact on heart health in Americans.
Houston Bike Summit Makes In-Person Return
The event will focus on improving bike safety and continuing maintenance on the city's growing network of bike lanes and trails.
Austin’s Transit CEO Moving to D.C.
After overseeing a major system redesign and plans for its largest-ever expansion, the head of Capital Metro will take over Washington, D.C.’s transit agency.
NYC 25x25 Plan Would Reclaim ‘13 Central Parks’ From Cars
A plan backed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams would repurpose 25 percent of the city’s street space for multimodal transportation and pedestrian plazas.
City of Malibu
EMC Planning Group Inc.
Jefferson Parish
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Rohnert Park
City of Hot Springs
City of Lakeway, Texas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.
