The autonomous vehicle market is predicted to reach $2.2 trillion by 2030, and over the past decade, autonomous vehicle technology has advanced rapidly. Several major companies, including Tesla, Waymo, and Uber, have been testing and developing self-driving cars. Now, autonomous technology is making its way into the trucking industry. Major manufacturers like Daimler and Volvo have begun testing and developing trucks that can drive themselves.
Zachary Leacox, an experienced Orlando truck accident lawyer, shares that fully autonomous trucks still have some regulatory and technical hurdles to overcome before they become mainstream. However, many experts predict that self-driving trucks will be deployed on public roads within the next 5-10 years—McKinsey projects the market to be worth $178 billion by 2035 and for 13% of all heavy-duty trucks to become autonomous. The potential benefits of safety, efficiency, and cost savings are enormous.
Reducing Truck Accidents Caused by Human Error
One of the most significant potential advantages of autonomous trucks is reducing accidents caused by human error. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 90% of serious crashes are caused entirely or partly by human error. Autonomous trucks are not susceptible to distractions, fatigue, and impaired judgment that human drivers face.
Proponents argue that self-driving trucks programmed to follow traffic laws will have faster reaction times and make fewer mistakes than human drivers. They point to early data from autonomous car testing that shows truck accident rates dropping dramatically compared to human-driven vehicles. As the technology improves, autonomous trucks may eventually eliminate many preventable truck accidents.
Advanced Truck Safety Features and Sensors
Fully autonomous trucks will be equipped with advanced sensors and safety technology. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) systems, cameras, radar, and ultrasonic sensors will give trucks a 360-degree view of the vehicle. This sensory data will enable trucks to detect and avoid potential hazards.
Some semi-autonomous trucks already on the road today have collision-avoidance features like automatic emergency braking. As the technology matures, more sophisticated truck accident-avoidance capabilities will be developed. Machine learning algorithms will enable trucks to recognize dangerous situations better and respond to them.
Increased Situational Awareness of Autonomous Trucks
Autonomous trucks will have greater situational awareness than human drivers. They can constantly monitor blind spots and their surroundings without losing focus. Trucks can wirelessly network and share data about road conditions and hazards. This will give other autonomous trucks advanced warning to adjust and drive more cautiously.
Self-driving trucks will also be able to integrate input from smart infrastructure like traffic lights and road sensors. By combining real-time data from their sensors with networked traffic updates, autonomous trucks will have the most complete picture possible of their surrounding environment. This will allow them to navigate safely even in challenging weather and road conditions, although a truck accident attorney can help you get compensation when truck accidents do occur.
The development of autonomous trucks promises to revolutionize the trucking industry. Self-driving trucks have the potential to prevent countless accidents caused by human error. Advanced sensors, computing capabilities, and increased situational awareness will enable autonomous trucks to avoid collisions and react faster to dangerous scenarios. However, fully realizing these safety benefits will require overcoming regulatory and adoption challenges over the next decade.