The future of transportation has arrived. Self-driving cars are being developed and tested by major companies like Tesla, Uber, and Google. But what about delivery cars? They have the potential to be self-driven as well.
With the technology we already have today, a person can order food or another service through an app on their phone, which will then be delivered by a driverless car. Imagine never having to worry about traffic again when you're ordering your favorite pizza because they'll just come straight up to your doorstep instead.
However, self-driving cars do present many legal questions, as they can be involved in accidents like any other vehicle.
What are Self-Driving Delivery Cars?
Self-driving cars can operate without a human driver. They can sense their surroundings, make decisions based on that data, and navigate their surroundings by following predefined instructions. There are several ways in which self-driving vehicles will affect our lives:
- Taxi services
- Automated construction equipment/delivery robots increasing the safety of work zones
- Reducing traffic congestion
- Reducing driver errors
However, these tasks have not been fully undertaken yet because we still need extensive testing before we're ready to use this technology with no questions asked.
When Did Self-Driving Delivery Cars Become Popular?
Since 2015, self-driving delivery vehicles have become a hot topic. They are being tested in China by companies like Baidu and Alibaba, where the infrastructure is much more advanced compared to other countries around the world. More and more companies are testing these vehicles in the United States, including large commercial trucks and pizza delivery companies.
Domino's is Testing Its Own Fleet of Self-Driving Delivery Cars
Domino's is testing its own fleet of self-driving delivery cars in Australia, which will deliver pizza straight to your door. They are working with Nuro and currently have several test vehicles being used on the road that operate completely autonomously.
The safety of this technology has not yet been confirmed, so they decided it would be best to make these deliveries overnight, when traffic is lower, and fewer pedestrians are on the streets. However, as these vehicles begin launching for regular commercial use, there will be less oversight and more traffic when they take off to make deliveries.
When Will Self-Driving Delivery Cars Become Prevalent in the U.S.?
Self-driving delivery cars are already being tested in the U.S., but not on a large scale like Australia and China just yet. There have been incidents where self-driving delivery vehicles were involved in accidents, so it is clear that this technology still has some kinks to work out before it can become widespread across the country and around the world.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
Even if self-driving cars are tested and deemed safe, accidents will still happen. Have you been involved in a car accident to no fault of your own? If so, the team at Bamieh & de Smeth, PLC, can help. Please contact us today to receive a free case evaluation.
