The Google Driverless Smart Car

Helping drivers enjoy the pleasure of being behind the “wheel.”

In a city like Phoenix having a car to quickly get around and commute to work is almost mandatory. With a public transit system seriously lacking in many areas and urban/suburban sprawl always extending the daily commute for many people, having an accident on the road due to human error is more and more likely. In 2012, 33,561 people died and 2,362,000 people were injured in the United States due to motor vehicle crashes¹. In Arizona alone 825 crashes ended with a fatality, with 227 (28%) of them having been involved with an alcohol-impaired driver, and texting also a contributing as it is a rising factor in distracted driving. One way to make driving possibly safer and definitely less stressful Google has been in the works to create a vehicle that will take a step forward in removing the human part out of the commute.

We were first introduced to Google’s concept and technology of their driverless car program in 2009-2010. As a prototype it was driving around the streets of California and the Google campus. Some of the first pictures and videos of the driverless car still have a driver behind the wheel ready to take control just in case.

The project is meant to help make driving safer,
more enjoyable and more efficient.

Although this project is very ambitious, and extremely cool, many people still like to drive. But when it comes to impaired drivers, whether it be handicapped/disabled, or intoxicated, having a self driving car is obviously a better choice than getting behind the wheel and endangering others. This also could have some major boosts to the transportation, and industrial sectors as public transportation, shipping and warehouse functions could be automated allowing for more efficient and easily trackable systems to arise making it safer and more productive to work.

In Phoenix where the majority of the city is built with the driver in mind, you’re lucky if you live within walking distance from your house. Much less in 100+ degree weather walking that distance, and waiting for a bus or light rail to come and pick you up will make you unpresentable for many jobs. Apps like Uber are gaining momentum and prove that a different form of public transportation can work, and there may be another option. Adding in self driving cars, a whole new version of public transportation could arise allowing people to use their phone or computer to “call” a ride, and have a robot pick them up and take them to their destination.

About the author:
Dan Deary is president of Capitol Collision Repair, one of the largest, independent body shops in Phoenix, now in their 26th year in business.

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