Consider a future where your daily commute is transformed into a stress-free ride, with vehicles that transport you without the need to actively drive. The concept that driverless vehicles can seamlessly carry people from one location to another is both innovative and promising. However, this attractive vision is accelerating the adoption of driverless vehicles without a full consideration of the risks they bring.
In this article, Somesh Sharma reflects on his recent work on the chapter Determinants of Safety for Responsible Adoption of Autonomous Driverless Vehicles in Urban Mobility, part of the book Cities: Inclusive, Liveable, and Sustainable.
The benefits and the risks
Driverless vehicles offer significant potential advantages, such as reducing traffic congestion, lowering the number of accidents caused by human error, and improving overall travel efficiency. However, alongside these benefits come serious safety concerns. Recent media reports highlight multiple incidents that call attention to these issues. For example, in July 2024, a driverless car in China fatally struck a pedestrian who was crossing against the light, illustrating the challenges these systems face in real-world conditions. In another case in San Francisco (January 2025), a driverless vehicle was involved in a multi-car collision that resulted in the first fatal accident attributed to such technology in the region. These incidents demonstrate that, despite their potential, driverless vehicles can fail to navigate complex environments safely.
Driverless vehicles within the mobility ecosystem
To understand the full spectrum of risks, it is essential to view a driverless vehicle as an integral part of a larger mobility ecosystem. A driverless car operates as a moving element within a network of traditional vehicles, road infrastructure, digital communication systems, and regulatory frameworks. The safety of these vehicles is closely linked to the readiness of the overall transportation system. If the road or digital infrastructure is outdated or poorly maintained, the vehicle's advanced technology might not function correctly, thereby increasing the risk of accidents. This interconnectedness underlines the necessity of evaluating our current mobility ecosystem before widespread adoption of driverless vehicles.
Evaluating readiness: a comprehensive framework
In their recent work, Somesh Sharma and Dr. Ashish Srivastava have proposed a five-pronged framework to assess the readiness of the mobility ecosystem for the safe integration of driverless vehicles. This framework includes:
- User Behavior Readiness: Evaluating how well drivers and passengers understand the capabilities and limitations of driverless vehicles. Misplaced trust or lack of awareness about when human intervention is needed can lead to dangerous situations.
- Road Infrastructure Readiness: Assessing whether existing roadways are suitable for driverless vehicles. This includes not only the physical conditions of the roads, such as clear lane markings and proper signage, but also any necessary modifications to support the advanced sensors and technologies used by these vehicles.
- Digital Infrastructure Readiness: Ensuring robust digital communication networks are in place to support real-time data exchange between vehicles and the surrounding environment. Reliable connectivity is crucial for the coordinated operation of driverless vehicles.
- Vehicle Technology Readiness: Scrutinizing the internal systems of driverless vehicles, including sensor accuracy, software reliability, and fail-safe mechanisms. Recent accidents have shown that even minor technical failures can have severe consequences.
- Regulatory Readiness: Evaluating whether current laws and standards adequately address the new challenges posed by driverless technology. Regulations must be updated to ensure that manufacturers are held accountable for safety, and that there is clear guidance for the operation of these vehicles.
Verdict: A call for proactive awareness and action
The brighter promises of driverless vehicles are compelling, but it is critical that their adoption is matched by a thorough assessment of our current mobility ecosystem’s readiness. The adoption of ADVs is largely driven by their perceived benefits and appeal, somehow overlooking the fact that their rapid adoption may compromise public safety. We must visualise ADVs as “solid dynamic objects (of significant size and dimensions), moving on their own, within our existing ecosystem where we all are already moving systematically guided by a set of rules and standards”.
A comprehensive, ex-ante evaluation of the entire mobility ecosystem is essential for assessing our readiness for the safe introduction of autonomous driverless vehicles (ADVs) on public roads. Such an evaluation can guide coordinated and well-planned adjustments across all components of the system (which is required), ensuring a responsible shift and a smooth integration of ADVs into everyday life.
The path forward requires not only technological innovation but also proactive measures to upgrade infrastructure, educate users, and update regulatory frameworks.
In doing so, we can better harness the benefits of driverless vehicles while mitigating the risks they present.
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- More information
To read the full chapter, please click on the following link: Determinants of Safety for Responsible Adoption of Autonomous Driverless Vehicles in Urban Mobility, part of the book Cities: Inclusive, Liveable, and Sustainable.
Additional references
A driverless car hits a person crossing against the light in China. AP News.
While Waymo not blamed in multi-car wreck, it's the first fatal collision involving a driverless car. NBC Bay Area.
