Many companies like Tesla, Google, and Apple are heavily investing in self-driving cars, which are expected to become increasingly common on roads worldwide.
Already big in USA
For those living in LA, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Austin in the USA, self-driving cars from Waymo are already a part of daily life. Waymo, a service from Google, has been on the roads for a while, and according to Waymo itself, their self-driving cars contribute to, among other things, 81% fewer accidents with injuries.
How does Waymo work?
Waymo One is an app for booking Waymo cars, and it's very easy to use. Those familiar with booking rides with Uber or Bolt will easily recognize it. You simply book a pickup and drop-off location in the app. Once you're in the car, you confirm and start the ride via a screen in the vehicle.
Waymo interior - Waymo Press Image
What are the benefits of self-driving cars?
There are several benefits, according to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which highlights these positive factors driving the development:
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Higher road safety: Higher levels of autonomy can reduce reckless behavior, particularly drunk driving, which causes a third of fatal accidents. In self-driving cars, passengers can focus on other things, like responding to emails.
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Reduced traffic congestion: Fewer accidents and minor collisions mean fewer traffic jams. Self-driving vehicles maintain a safe and steady distance, reducing unnecessary stops in traffic.
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Environmental benefits: Less traffic means less fuel consumption and fewer emissions from unnecessary idling. Automated systems can reduce unnecessary braking and acceleration.
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Increased productivity: In vehicles with high automation, passengers can read, sleep, or play with children during the ride. Companies can optimize deliveries and routes for more efficient and cost-effective transportation.
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Greater independence: Self-driving vehicles can increase independence for people with disabilities and the elderly.
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Better use of space: Self-driving cars can drive closer together and increase road capacity without new construction. Shared self-driving cars can reduce the need for parking, especially in cities.
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Contactless delivery: Contactless delivery means people don't need to interact, which is particularly important in certain health contexts, such as virus transmission.
Robot v.s. Robot collision
This might become the future when more robots moves in the traffic. Video from L.A. when a delivery robot and self driving car collided.
When will self-driving cars come to Sweden?
In Sweden, the technology is still in the testing phase, and widespread adoption requires further development in legislation, infrastructure, and safety systems. From 2025 and onwards, we can expect to see more self-driving vehicles in limited environments, thanks to new EU regulations and Swedish pilot projects. Fully autonomous vehicles (level 4) are expected to be tested without drivers in certain areas, but widespread use in daily traffic is still a few years away.
Self-driving cars are technically ready, but Sweden is not yet fully prepared. So, we'll likely have to wait a few years for self-driving cars to arrive, unless development accelerates dramatically.
