Takin’ It to the Streets: Applying New Data to Reduce Car Accidents
Few milestones strike more fear into the heart of parents than that of a driver license. Millions of Americans participate in this rite of passage each year—and even more are involved in car accidents. With the freedom of the road comes an element of danger, one that no amount of driver’s ed can reduce. Self-driving cars, also known as autonomous vehicles (AVs), are landing in cities around America, including New Orleans, and hold great promise for improving the conditions of the road and saving lives.
For years, tech companies have workshopped the product of a self-driving car. Needless to say, extensive research, testing, and trials are necessary when developing an autonomous vehicle. Waymo, one of the more well-known brands, has analyzed millions of miles driven by their robotaxis to gather as much information about the safety and efficiency of their driverless vehicles as possible. This year, Waymo released safety data with decidedly conclusive results. Compared to an average human driver, the robotaxis had 91% fewer injuries or worse crashes, 79% fewer airbag deployment crashes, and 80% fewer injury-causing crashes. Artificial intelligence (AI) has offered a much-needed boost to the innovation process and its incorporation into AVs by helping to simulate road conditions, map areas, and adjust more quickly and accurately. Because of their robust datasets and systematic deployment in cities across the country, Waymo is one of the most commonly referenced examples of AV safety. However, the features that make the robotaxis a breakthrough safety measure can and are being used by other AV companies, like Glydcar, Cruise, and Zoox, as well.
In a guest essay for the New York Times, Dr. Jon Slotkin responds to the data released by Waymo from a medical perspective. He argues that policymakers have an imperative to respond to the available statistics about AV safety. “When an intervention works this clearly, you change what you do….We surgeons see the aftermath of the 10,000 crash victims who come to emergency rooms every day. The combined economic and quality-of-life toll exceeds $1 trillion annually, more than the entire U.S. military or Medicare budget.” Considering the scale of accidents each year, many of which are fatal, every parent, driver, and lawmaker has a vested interest in applying these findings. Despite this compelling evidence and the major implications for public safety, there is a vocal group of union leaders and policymakers fighting against continued innovation and widespread adoption. In addition to focusing on the rare accidents associated with AVs, skeptics slow down approval processes, withhold regulatory clarity, and ignore the growing body of evidence to support AV safety.
What would it look like for policymakers to make a change in favor of the lifesaving promise of driverless cars? Cutting away at red tape that confuses developers and makes compliance prohibitively expensive is a good start. In September, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced efforts to modernize safety standards. “America must lead the way in transportation innovation. If we don’t, our adversaries will fill the void….The rules of the road need to be updated to fit the realities of the 21st century. Our changes will eliminate redundant requirements and bring us closer to a single national standard that spurs innovation and prioritizes safety.” While a true national standard is hammered out, states can create a space for AV companies to continue innovating by encouraging testing and offering regulatory clarity where possible.
Louisiana is one of the states leading in the efforts to work alongside driverless car companies to increase safety and offer more peace of mind for those on the road. Waymo announced plans to launch in New Orleans in 2026 after testing its vehicles on the streets of the city. The cars have been learning the nuances of New Orleans for months and using machine learning to anticipate and adjust to the many idiosyncrasies and potholes of the city. Louisiana has taken a pro-business approach to AV policy and has updated its rules to address driverless cars, specifically, passing laws as early as 2016 to provide clarity through definitions and rules for the road. The testing and deployment of Waymo in Louisiana is an endorsement of the pro-innovation approach to lawmaking–one that does not leave companies in the dark or burden them with unduly regulation. This approach can serve as an example to other states regarding how to prioritize public safety while attracting the economic benefits that accompany a thriving tech industry.
Links to Learn More
Opinion | The Data on Self-Driving Cars Is Clear. We Have to Change Course-NYT
How will Waymo’s self-driving cars handle New Orleans potholes and parades?-NOLAnews
You Can Drive My Car: Self-Driving Cars Save Lives – Pelican Policy
