Self-driving cars will revolutionise the way we travel – and the way we drive. Once your car can successfully navigate traffic and drive itself, it could increase road safety and convenience, while also freeing up more of our time.

The convenience of an autonomous vehicle

The future with an autonomous vehicle could be extremely convenient. It could drive you to work while you watch a film instead of staring at the back of the car in front of you. The car could then drive itself home, so you don’t need to worry about parking, and then pick you up again after work.  

Perhaps one day soon, your autonomous car could pick up the kids from school and drive them to football practice.

There’s a long way to go before autonomous vehicles (AVs) will be able to operate in these ways, but the potential is exciting. The market for autonomous driving and advanced driver-assistance systems is predicted to reach $300 to $400 billion by 2035.

Greater safety and mobility

Autonomous driving could massively improve road safety, reducing the number of crashes and lowering the road toll. Human errors – mistakes and poor decisions – are a major cause of car crashes in New Zealand. Driver error is involved in over 90% of fatal and serious injury crashes, according to our research, and AVs could eliminate human errors.

That doesn’t mean the technology will be perfect, but it is likely to be less error-prone than the average human driver. One study indicated that advanced driver-assistance systems in Europe could cut the number of accidents by 15% by 2030.

AVs could also enable you to remain mobile for longer in your life. It will allow elderly people to have greater mobility for longer. It should also enable more transport options for other people who cannot drive, whether by choice or due to disability. Access to an AV sharing platform could allow for door-to-door pick-ups and drop-offs when required, like having access to an affordable personal taxi.

Could AVs save you money?

Self-driving cars could make a major difference to our economy and potentially cut your driving costs considerably. Because they drive more efficiently, you could immediately save on fuel or electricity expenditure for powering your vehicle, and save on parking if your car drives itself home. It’s even possible your car could earn money while you’re at work by being part of a shared transport pool.

On a large scale, self-driving delivery vehicles could also reduce the cost of shipping. If the technology is available to navigate ships and trucks, that could cut the cost of importing and exporting products. Plus self-driving buses and trains could cut the cost of public transport.

With lower energy use and greater efficiency, AVs could also reduce carbon emissions and help Aotearoa achieve its climate change targets.

A new way of learning to drive  

As self-driving cars become mainstream, the way we learn to drive may undergo a huge transformation. Drivers or users of AVs may need extra training to know how and when to drive autonomously, or when to switch to manual driving. We may also need upskilling on the features of AVs and test drivers on this knowledge. 

Even our licensing system may change, according to a report by Te Manatū Waka/Ministry of Transport. Those operating AVs for passengers or goods might need a specific license, and in the long-term, you might need a separate licence if you plan only drive a non-AV.

Challenges ahead, but driver assistance is increasing

Fully autonomous and driverless vehicles are still a long way from becoming normal on Kiwi roads. In the meantime, though, you can embrace some of this technology. New vehicles have an increasingly complex suite of driver assistance technology features. For example, lane assist, blind spot monitoring and smart cruise control all help you avoid errors and stay safe on the roads.

While you wait for your future self-driving car to become a reality, ensure you’re maximising your safety in your current vehicle. Make safety a priority when you’re buying a car, whether it’s a new car or a used vehicle. Maintain your existing car, so the brakes, seatbelts and tyres are always operating effectively. And hopefully one day your car can drive you around while you relax, safely, and enjoy your trip.