Construction Law
Are Self-Driving Cars a Threat to Construction Zones? – Part 2
It is inevitable that the future of transportation will involve groundbreaking, autonomous technology. Whether we will rely on UBER for a ride, semi-trailer trucks to transport our food and supplies, trains to transport industrial materials, or eventually construction equipment to build the structures we will work and live in, the future is in self-driving vehicles.
As Fort Lauderdale construction lawyers, we want our roadways and worksites safe for everybody. As we anticipate the future of roadways, self-driving car companies continue to tinker with the designs and functions of these vehicles to ensure our safety. As these impressive tech companies continue to gather as much data as they can on what has caused defects, trial runs have proven that construction zones are one of the primary reasons why motorists need to take control of their autonomous vehicle.
Like anything worthwhile, self-driving vehicles are still a work in progress. As we covered in the first section of this article, without a universal database for occupied construction sites, tech companies are trying to figure out a logical way to coordinate self-driving cars to navigate around these hazardous and often occupied areas.
Manual Operation
As long as a car has a steering wheel and pedal then motorists can always physically operate the vehicle themselves when necessary. Of course, this takes some of the fun out of having a self-driving car, but it makes logical sense to include these features in a vehicle in case of emergency situations or in cases where the car happens to malfunction. Another option is to equip self-driving cars with technology that allows motorists to communicate with call centers. If a motorist needed to avoid a construction zone, they could notify the call center and it would help navigate them away from the hazardous area.
Short Range Communication
Another practical tech option is to equip cars with technology known as “talking tech.” This short range communication would allow cars to speak to each other to avoid crashes and obstacles like construction zones. This car-to-car communication technology already exists in limited vehicles and would not be exclusive to self-driving vehicles. In fact, The National Highway and Safety Administration plans to mandate this technology into all new cars by as early as 2020.
With this innovative technology, hopefully, roadways will become safer for both motorists and our diligent construction workers. As Fort Lauderdale construction lawyers, we are here to offer you any legal advice you may need regarding roadside construction zones and safety risks.
If you would like to speak with a Fort Lauderdale construction lawyer, please contact us at 954.210.8735, or submit our contact request form.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.