Last week's poll: When should mass autonomy hit the roads?

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Last week, we asked readers what approach should be taken when integrating widespread autonomy into the UK road network.

autonomy

The poll was set in response to a report that suggested autonomous vehicles be introduced to roads, even if they are only marginally safer than humans.

According to a report from the RAND Corporation, thousands of lives could be saved over approximately 15 years if autonomous technology was widely introduced when it is just 10 per cent better than human drivers. Over a longer period, hundreds of thousands of lives could be saved over 30 years compared to waiting until the technology is at least 75 per cent better.

Report co-author Nidhi Kalra said:  "If we wait until these vehicles are nearly perfect, our research suggests the cost will be many thousands of needless vehicle crash deaths caused by human mistakes. It's the very definition of perfect being the enemy of good."

The early introduction of vehicle autonomy would not, however, eliminate road deaths, and society may not accept the technology causing casualties, even if overall harm was reduced.

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