Driverless cars: Is the future here?

METRO MANILA, – While driving is one of the most efficient ways to explore the world, many people consider it as a chore.

It’s stressful to navigate traffic and it can sometimes be downright dangerous. However, there are also people who enjoy the benefits of private transportation without the hassle of driving themselves.

Fortunately, things have changed a lot over the last century, including car technology. The once-impossible dream of driving a vehicle without getting behind the wheel has been made a reality with the invention of the autonomous vehicle.

This combines convenience with safety. It is equipped with sophisticated features like adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and blind-spot monitoring to navigate the road and provides a range of advantages over human drivers.

But it is not on the road yet in the Philippines. It has several challenges to overcome before it becomes a mainstream option.

Even so, there are several advantages of a driverless car:

1. Safety

Human error causes more than 90 percent of road crashes in the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Driving errors include speeding, distractions like mobile phone use and driver fatigue. In addition, as people age, their ability to drive safely diminishes.

Driverless cars can eliminate many of these risks by removing human fallibility from driving. As the name suggests, this new technology allows people to enjoy an entire trip by mainly sitting inside the automobile while the vehicle moves itself.

Basically, you only need to input the address and you are ready to go! Just sit, relax and wait until you arrive at your destination.

2. Productivity

A significant amount of time is wasted during daily commutes.

But if you weren’t driving your own car, you’d be free to do other things — like work or relax — while you travel. Even if you were still “driving,” your hands would be free for other activities.

Using an autonomous vehicle allows you to answer text messages, read social media posts or watch videos online without the fear of getting into a crash. You can even finish your presentation on your laptop before you meet a client.

3. Eco-friendly

Another potential advantage of a driverless car in comparison to the traditional ones is its ability to become more environment-friendly (and not just because most autonomous vehicles will be electric).

When this happens, air pollution will reduce, giving the next generation a cleaner and safer place to live in the future.

4. Independence

Another major benefit of a driverless car is its full automation ability, which allows people with disabilities to experience the life that they always wanted.

Instead of relying on their family members to drive them around, PWDs can use autonomous vehicles to go from one place to another by themselves. These vehicles also offer self-sufficiency to senior citizens who can no longer drive the way they used to.

5. Saves money

Since road crashes caused by human errors will be eliminated with self-driving cars, expensive car repairs will also be significantly reduced.

In addition to that, fewer crashes also means a smaller chance of being hospitalized. This one can be a struggle especially if you don’t have funds to support your medical needs.

Furthermore, using health insurance and other related policies to compensate damages caused by a crash will also lessen.

6. Decreases traffic congestion

One of the most common causes of traffic in the Philippines, other than a road crash, is traffic violations like illegal parking or unlawful loading and unloading.

In the future though, driverless cars will be programmed to follow traffic rules all the time. It can also give enough distance from other automobiles on the road.

As a result, traffic congestion and road hazards will be reduced, allowing everyone to arrive in their desired locations on time while avoiding arguments with other drivers.

7. Better driving during bad weather conditions

The Philippines may look appealing because of its great culture and beaches, but it is also one of the most typhoon-prone countries in the world.

During bad weather conditions, it can be a struggle to drive along wet areas, especially flooded ones. It is even more difficult if you are not skilled enough to navigate those places without submerging your vehicle in the water.

Fortunately, driverless cars are far more advanced than the standard vehicles today. They have better bodies and features that can handle driving during natural disasters. As a result, owners will be able to evacuate easier with their loved ones.

On the other hand, in case you are looking for an affordable car that you can drive yourself, consider buying one from Automart.PH!

It offers a wide selection of used cars at great prices, ranging from compact cars to pick-up trucks, that suit your needs.

And if you’re looking for the finest used cars, check out Automart.PH Certified Used Vehicles. These are restored until they feel like new again. They also come with a three-day money-back guarantee and, for Gold Certified units, a one-year warranty.

Automart.PH Senior Content Creator VJ Bacungan contributed to this story.