Will new car technology lead to reckless driving?

Automotive technology progresses at an astonishing rate. Newer cars have features designed to make Texas roads a safer place. Autonomous cars may be the future. While mainstream vehicles have not reached that point yet, many new cars come with technologies that can assist a driver in checking blind spots, in braking for obstacles and bringing a driver back to his or her lane. Automotive companies design these features to lessen the chance of accidents. Unfortunately, some experts believe that it may lead to more reckless driving.

Bloomberg states that deaths on U.S roadways stood at 40,000 people in 2016 and one of the culprits is distracted driving. The use of phones and other handheld devices is on the rise. While the technologies installed in vehicles may compensate for some inattentiveness, drivers should not rely solely on the extra features. Already, drivers are becoming lazier due to the new technology.

Driver’s assistance features may take the place of a person’s basic driving skills. This allows a driver to relax behind the wheel of a car and to relinquish some of that responsibility. A study by the University of Michigan found evidence of this in drivers. In cars where a person has blind-spot detection or other alerts, a driver will not look over his or her shoulder when changing lanes. The systems still require human input, yet drivers may use the technology as if it is capable of taking complete control.

The above on new car technology is designed to educate about reckless driving. It is not intended to be legal advice.