Our generation very well might be the last to ever need driver’s licenses.  For the past decade, both huge car corporations and tech start-ups have been competing to see who can secure the market on self-driving cars.  Companies like Uber, Ford, and Google are locked into a tight arms race over control of this new industry, with developments being pushed out at light speed.  Initially, some safety concerns had slowed the development process, but as the idea has become more mainstream, the pace has picked up to an intense level.  A 2016 statement by the Obama administration described the benefits of this new technology and the need to craft regulations that aid its progression, and there is no stopping the rise of self-driving cars.  

But what exactly makes this industry so promising and profitable? Most obviously, there is potential for a huge decrease in automobile accidents.  According to a Stanford University study, up to 90% of car accidents are caused by human error.  Not counting the rare instance of vehicle malfunction, the computer programmed steering and brake systems that this field would bring could eliminate car accidents all together.  Able to detect possible pitfalls exponentially closer than the human mind, computer programs could react in milliseconds and keep both passengers and pedestrians safe.  

This idea appeals greatly to Whitney Young students.  Jack Fahey, ‘18, says, “It seems like they could do a much better job of driving than humans.”  Additionally, these cars have the capacity to function as fleets, all controlled by a central network.  This network could monitor traffic and road conditions, and program the most efficient route to get a passenger from A to B.  Interestingly, these network algorithms could eliminate the concept of private car ownership altogether.  For a monthly or annual fee, potential users could pay a subscription to access the vehicles of a specific company.  Billy Goode, ‘18, sees other advantages.  “I’m always up for saving a few bucks.  Sounds cheaper than a whole new car.” This could create a world where looking for parking, drunk driving accidents, and saving up a fortune to purchase a car are things of the past.  The benefits of this new technology are widespread, and it is clear why companies are so eager to lock this blossoming industry down for themselves.  Quincy Hirt, ‘17, says, “I would love to see this technology be used on a wide scale.  It sounds really interesting.”  

However, this technology does not come without drawbacks.  The computer processing systems featured in the vehicles will frequently be faced with tough ethical dilemmas.  For example, should a family of four be driving down the highway on a rainy night and see a child walk into their path, what is the right course of action for the computer to take?  Is the car supposed to keep the passengers safe at all costs, neglecting the child’s well being?  Or should the car try to swerve into another lane, potentially harming the passengers or other vehicles, but keeping the child safe?  The companies developing this technology are faced with multitudes of such dilemmas, and, according to Scientific American, have hired ethics professors and philosophers to take the moral load off of programmers.  Solving these problems will be challenging but by no means impossible.  Despite a few philosophical bumps in the road to development, the end product will be a safer, cheaper, and more efficient alternative.  If you have been procrastinating on getting a license, you might just be smarter than us all.