There are many drivers who don’t want to give up driving and let cars do all the work, but companies that push for the use of autonomous vehicles may get a helping hand from demographics.
While younger customers don’t want to be pushed away from the driver’s seat, the elderly are more open to choosing self-driving cars, as they provide mobility to those that are not able to drive anymore. Rising numbers of older drivers being killed or injured in accidents may also boost demand for autonomous vehicles.
Almost 90 percent of traffic accidents are caused by human error, which is a factor that doesn’t exist in autonomous cars. Many of these accidents are caused by seniors, according to data from Japan. Of the 4,411 people who died on Japanese roads in 2012, more than half (2,264), were 65 or older.
The situation is not very different in developed countries where the population is aging, with analysts predicting there would be a huge global market for autonomous cars in the future. ‘‘Autonomous driving could be very helpful to people who have physical challenges, or the elderly,” said Mitsuhiko Yamashita, executive vice president of Nissan.
Carmakers are introducing automated-driving systems that may ultimately lead to autonomous cars. Toyota said earlier this month that it would introduce systems in about two years that will allow cars to communicate with each other to avoid crashes. Nissan has received a permit to test autonomous cars on Japan’s public roads and plans to introduce a self-driving car by 2020. GM is also planning vehicles by 2020 that will drive themselves on controlled-access highways.
By Dan Mihalascu
Story References: Bloomberg
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