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Being a driver in the year 2015 is said to be “one of the most stressful activities in our lives”, with heart rate, adrenaline levels and stress hormones increasing in particular driving situations. However, with vehicle numbers surging, traffic has also hit an all time high. As a result, there has been even more road accidents, with a shocking 193,290 reported casualties and 24,580 people killed or seriously injured in the UK in 2014.

With such observations, comes the opportunity for a new type of vehicle to eradicate driver error and improve the experience of travelling. By putting the power of control entirely in a self-driving, independent or ‘autonomous’ vehicle, the vision for a stress-free and safe driving experience can finally come to fruition.

These driverless cars, and more broadly autonomous vehicles, will monumentally change the landscape of the automotive industry, arguably creating the biggest transformation of society’s view of the vehicle in the last 150 years. So much so that Boston Consulting Group forecasts that self-driving features could represent a $42 billion market by 2025 alone.

How long until the driverless car roll out? 

By 2025, developments in machine learning, communications and autonomy will have accelerated the widespread adoption of fully independent and driverless vehicles on the roads. These developments will have also fuelled public acceptance of the benefits that autonomous vehicles can bring to society, namely; reducing accidents and transforming ‘drivers’ into ‘passengers’.

However, this process will involve carefully navigating many broad global implications for infrastructure, the insurance industry and our way of life, while also bringing together many stakeholders,  to consider complex debates over safety, security, reliability and liability.

What is required for full autonomy?

Although this vision has the potential to become a reality by the year 2025, achieving it will need the industry to change. It might, for example, consider whether a particular implementation of autonomy even needs to be proven to be 100% safe from the bottom up, if it is to save lives. Legislation and business cases need to clarify vehicle ownership and liability.

But the most important aspect of all is the necessity to take on board independent perspectives to successfully drive consistent global standards, interoperability and test platforms. Only after this is done can we certify the resilience of autonomous vehicles to wireless threats and cyber-attack.

Furthermore, to produce fully autonomous vehicle systems, where drivers and owners can reap the full benefits – such as reduced journey times, insurance premiums and a healthier overall lifestyle – a whole new level of integrated connectivity over and above what Google now refers to as an ‘autonomous car’ will be a fundamental requirement. 

While Google’s aim to eliminate human driving in five years is all well and good – we must consider the bigger picture, which won’t have changed in time for their dream to become a reality.

For more information on the future of the autonomous car download Plextek Consulting’s Vision Paper: “Why Google won’t eliminate human driving in five years”