GM technologies 'will take over driving duties from motorists'

This assessment was made by Alan Taub, GM’s vice-president of global research and development at the Intelligent Transport Systems World Congress on 16 October. At the event, he said cars that partially drive themselves will be available by the middle of the decade, with more sophisticated self-driving systems by the end of the decade.

According to GM, sensors, radars, portable communication devices, GPS devices and cameras supply critical information to the driver and the vehicle’s computer system. Combined with digital maps, the same technologies will reportedly allow the driver to let the vehicle concentrate on driving while he or she does something else.  

‘The primary goal, though, is safety,’ said Taub. ‘Future generations of safety systems will eliminate the crash altogether by interceding on behalf of drivers before they’re even aware of a hazardous situation.’

GM said it is already putting some of these advanced safety systems into its vehicles. A lane-departure warning system is available on the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain, while a side blind-zone alert is available on the Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban. Other vehicles, including the Equinox and Terrain, are said to offer back-up cameras.