Google Introduces Its New Self-Driving Car

Historically, consumers may not consider Google as a leader in automotives, but the company has positioned itself on the cutting edge of technology and innovation.

Google is one of the tech companies spearheading the new field of autonomous vehicles. The company has recently introduced a prototype it’s been developing, one that doesn’t require a driver. Google will begin testing its new, driverless vehicles with drivers this year.

About Google’s Self-Driving Car

Google’s new driverless car is a small, ultra-smart car. Re/code writer Liz Gannes describes it well: “[I]t looks like a gondola with wheels.” The vehicle can only travel a maximum of 25 miles per hour. It has added safety features including extra foam at the bumper and a plastic-like windshield.

Google’s driverless car seats two people, and has no steering wheel, brake pedal, or accelerator. There are also no mirrors, no backseat, no glove compartment, and no radio. You provide the car with a destination, and then you sit back and enjoy the scenery while it takes you there.

Why driverless cars?

Purported improved safety is the primary reason cited by manufacturers for developing self-driving vehicles. Google’s autonomous car knows when to accelerate and decelerate, how to handle curves, and when to stop. Because drivers are not behind the wheel, it has the potential to virtually eliminate accidents related to driver errors or negligence.

Carmakers like Google are hoping that smarter vehicles will reduce crash rates and make the roads far safer. Egil Juliussen, an analyst at IHS Automotive, speculates that the self-driving vehicle market will dramatically increase over the next two decades, reaching 11.8 million by 2035 with premiums from $7,000 to $10,000, according to Bloomberg.

What to Expect with the Emerging Driverless Car Industry

Google isn’t the only one delving into the driverless car industry. Ford, Toyota, and Honda are developing prototypes as well. What can we expect to see in the coming years?

KPMG, one of the world’s largest auditing companies, released the report, Self-Driving Cars: Are We Ready? They shared three key insights based on industry research.

• #1: Self-driving cars will change consumer interest and demands. KMPG explains: “People might not care how fast a car accelerates from zero to 60. Torque? Turbocharged? Really? If you’re not driving, what’s the big deal?”

• #2: The value proposition for cars will be altered. Consumers will be increasingly concerned with quality of life, not just safety features. KMPG explains that the new value proposition is as follows: “Shorter commute times + reduced traffic-related variability + the ability to use the vehicle in either self-driving or human-operated mode (self-driving on/off) = a strong incentive for consumer adoption.”

• #3: There will be an increase in mobility on demand services because fewer people will care about car ownership. “If the car shows up when you want it, where you want it, does it matter if you own it?”

Liability Lawyers in Ontario

But for now, human error will continue to be a major factor in car accidents in Ontario. For questions regarding liability, for help filing a claim, or for accident-related questions such as the car accident compensation to which you’re entitled, call Preszler Injury Lawyers for a free consultation. Contact us today at 1-800-JUSTICE®.