Should You Buy a Self-Driving Vehicle?

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Marleny Hucks
Marleny Huckshttp://MyrtleBeachSC.com
Marlene (or Marleny as she is known in Spanish) is a mentor, teacher, cross-cultural trainer, storyteller, writer, and for those who have been under her leadership or simply sat across the table from her, she is a mirror of destiny. Her love of word and image were formed early on by one of her heroes, Dr. Seuss. If you asked those who know her well, they would describe her a compassionate, funny, wise, curious, honest, real, strong, sensitive and totally human which comes out as she teaches and writes. She sees all of life, even the most mundane, through faith and believes that who we become as we live this side of the veil is what matters not the journey itself or our circumstances. Marleny Hucks has spent her life crossing bridges. She comes from a diverse background of ministry roles and contexts as well as has transitioned in and out of the business world. Having lived outside the country as well as traveled extensively she has a fascination with culture causes her to live her life within a global mosaic no matter where her feet are planted. Marlene currently lives in South Carolina with her husband David, who owns a news company but who she says is a “crime fighter”, bringing light into darkness in their systems of their city. Marleny currently works as a content management specialist covering Myrtle Beach News for MyrtleBeachSC News.

Self-driving cars have become more and more prevalent in recent years. While the idea of a car that drove itself was once a far-off dream, recent advances in technology have made it an increasingly likely probably. When looking to buy a new car, you can also consider whether or not you want to invest in this next step of vehicle development. 

What Are Self-Driving Cars?

Autonomous vehicles in science fiction are driven without any input from a driver. The passengers may not even be anywhere near the controls, as the computer handles everything. Robotic driverless taxis are the closest thing we currently have to this.

However, most self-driving cars are more mundane. Modern vehicles often integrate self-driving technology as safety features and convenience aids. You may already be familiar with some of these systems. They still require a driver, however. You will be doing the lion’s share of the work, the self-driving technology merely helps you to drive more safely and alerts you of any hidden dangers. 

For example, a common autonomous system allows your vehicle to detect any obstacles in your blind spot. Another system detects obstacles in front of your vehicle and can activate the brakes to prevent a collision. Some cars have lane detection systems that then prevent your vehicle from crossing the lane, even steering your vehicle for you. Others can park your car for you, reversing into tricky spots without any interaction from the driver. You just let go of the steering wheel and let it park itself.

Self-Driving Vehicles and Legislation

However, as you’d expect, most governments are nervous about letting completely driverless vehicles lose on the road. While autonomous cars are often considered safer than cars driven by human operators, as they eliminate human error, self-driving car laws 2022 still provide some restrictions. 

For example, in states that allow driverless taxis, a human operator is still required to be present in case of an emergency. This means that one of the passengers needs to be able to drive and ready to take the wheel. Also, driverless taxis can’t be used in certain conditions, such as in heavy rain. 

As driverless technology continues to develop, these taxis may become less of a novelty and more common in cities around the world. They’re cheaper for taxi companies and customers alike and may be safer than taxis driven by human operators.

Benefits of Self-Driving Vehicles

As mentioned above, many vehicles already have self-driving systems integrated into the computer. Autonomous vehicles are often considered far safer than cars driven without a self-driving AI. Even in cases where an autonomous vehicle is involved in a collision, the cause is almost always due to human error rather than a malfunction.

If you purchase a modern vehicle, then the chances are that it will include some autonomous safety features already. The major downside to this is that repairs are more complicated. You might be able to fix up an engine at home, but the computer will require specialist care. 

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