San Francisco is a cornerstone of innovation and technology. As the city has transformed into a testing environment for such changes, its streets have become ground for cutting-edge technologies that redefine how residents commute, travel, and interact with our environment. Currently, San Francisco is a center for the new breakout shift in transportation – self-driving cars.
People can look to history for guidance on the fate of self-driving cars. For example, in 1886, when Karl Benz made the first gasoline-powered car, the public’s reaction was a mix of curiosity, skepticism, and amazement. Many people were curious about this new invention and recognized it was about to change transportation forever. However, lots of people were skeptical and worried about the safety of this new technology. They doubted whether these vehicles would be applicable enough for everyday use, and there were concerns about accidents and mechanical failures. In 1906, just before the famous San Francisco earthquake, there was a similar debate about the pros and cons of the early automobile and horse-drawn buggies. In today’s world, many know that cars over the last century have made an undeniable impact on society, mobility, and transportation. Were people naive to think the automobile industry and its technology wouldn’t advance?
Nowadays, many know that cars have shaped society, mobility, and transportation over the last century. However, as we look to the future, a similar debate arises over the potential impact of self-driving cars. Even though self-driving cars may seem like a great contribution to society, there could be many problems associated with them. One major concern is the issue of job replacement. As self-driving technology advances, there’s a risk that many transportation-related jobs could be replaced by self-driving cars. This includes jobs held by taxi drivers, Uber drivers, truck drivers, and delivery drivers, which could result in the unemployment of many people working these jobs. Safety is also a huge concern for people. While self-driving technology is meant to reduce accidents, there are still risks associated with new technology, and there could be malfunctions, hacking, and other circumstances in effect. Making sure people trust self-driving cars will be critical before they are continued to be used on the roads.
On the other hand, some people want self-driving cars to thrive. For example, a poll taken by Pew Research in 2023 shows that only 21 percent of Americans believe that self-driving cars will help society as a whole. This number has been greatly increased, compared to the same survey that was held last year with 9 percent of people. One of the main reasons that people love the idea of self-driving cars is safety. Human error remains a leading cause of accidents on the road, often stemming from distractions, tiredness, or drunk driving. Self-driving cars, equipped with advanced sensors and AI algorithms, have the potential to lower these risks by constantly following traffic laws, maintaining safe distances, and swiftly responding to changing road conditions.
Self-driving cars come with both exciting benefits and notable challenges. On the positive side, these self-driving cars can help reduce traffic jams by driving more smoothly and avoiding congestion. This means people can get where they’re going faster. One of the most appealing aspects of self-driving cars is their ability to multitask. Since the car does the driving, passengers can use their travel time for other things like reading, working, or just relaxing. The cars can also help protect the planet since they are eco-friendly and run on electricity instead of gasoline. This helps cut down on pollution and makes the air cleaner. As previously mentioned, another potential benefit is that road safety could improve by a large measure. Self-driving cars can make driving safer because they use smart technology to spot dangers and react faster than people can.
Similarly reflecting the differing perspectives of the public, some SHC students are excited about self-driving cars, but others don’t like the idea and prefer traditional cars. Many students seem to dislike self-driving cars primarily because they feel the technology isn’t safe. A poll conducted by the Emerald of fifty-three SHC students showed the results were split. About 54% said they liked self-driving cars, while 46% said they didn’t like the idea of self-driving cars. When asked if they would ride in one, 70% said “Yes,” and 30% said “No.” Among those who said “No” their main concern was potential malfunctions when riding in the self-driving car. While some may prefer not to ride them, others are already enjoying the features of self-driving cars as one student shared “Yes, the ride was fun and my friends and I were able to blast music.”
The Emerald also interviewed SHC teachers to learn their different perspectives on self-driving cars. Mr. Mullally, Instructor of Physics, shares that, “I’m indifferent right now because I can see how they could replace taxi drivers which could displace a lot of people. On the other hand, they could be safer and could not make the same mistakes that humans make.” Ms. Daley, Instructor of ASL, said, “I think they are beneficial, but I think they need a lot of improvement before every car can be self-driving. When self-driving cars become available for the public, I probably won’t buy one.”
All in all, the newly released self-driving cars bring both exciting opportunities and significant challenges to the world of transportation and innovation. On one hand, these self-driving vehicles promise enhanced safety, efficiency, accessibility, and environmental sustainability. They have the potential to revolutionize how people commute, offering more productive and enjoyable travel experiences. Additionally, self-driving cars can pave the way for smarter urban planning and infrastructure development. Nonetheless, issues with job replacement and safety concerns still hinder the full confidence of consumers. Regardless of where people stand on this issue and the objective arguments on both sides, history repeats itself, and ultimately, automobile technology will continue to advance whether people want it to or not.
