In today’s fast-paced world, it can be hard to remember what we did yesterday, much less the way we lived 15 or 20 years ago. But for us as a society to fully recognize the potential for technology in the future, it’s important to consider how far we have progressed.
The idea of autonomous vehicles, or self-driving cars, has been around for over a decade. I recognize that to many, the idea of a car that can transport you without requiring the driver to steer or control the speed of the vehicle may seem far off at best. But this technology is within our reach. I have become increasingly impressed by the benefits it could offer to Georgia and society as a whole.
Many of today’s luxury vehicles, such as those from Cadillac, Volvo and Mercedes, now come with features that automatically apply the brakes if they sense a crash. Some offer computerized parking and even highway lane-maintenance features. Many leading auto manufacturers already invested in driverless technology expect full implementation to be within reach in 10 to 15 years. Google recently offered a concrete example of its viability when its fleet of approximately a dozen autonomous vehicles logged over 700,000 miles of accident-free driving.
The strides made by Google, as well as by traditional auto manufacturers like Ford and GM, assure me that now is the time for Georgia to take a hard look at the benefits and possible challenges that will arise as this technology comes to our roads. That is what led me to author House Resolution 1265 to establish the House Study Committee on Autonomous Vehicle Technology.
As Georgians, we know too well that changes must be made to our transportation network. Undoubtedly, investments need to be made in our infrastructure. But at a time of declining fuel tax revenue and increasing costs, we cannot rely on new roads as the solution to unclogging Georgia highways. In the Atlanta area alone, gridlock costs commuters almost $3 billion in time and fuel each year.
Autonomous vehicles address this problem with a twofold approach. First, autonomous vehicles remove the human element, which often results in accidents and the “rubber necking” that goes with them. By removing the possibility of human error, thousands of hours of extended commute times will be eliminated. Second, even in times of heavy traffic, passengers in autonomous vehicles don’t lose their productivity. Imagine how much more tolerable an extended commute would be if you were able to write your latest work report, or even catch a nap, without compromising the safety of yourself or others on the road.
Further, by removing the human factor from transportation, many individuals who have lost their mobility due to age or disability will be able to enjoy a renewed sense of independence. It is this feature that first attracted me to autonomous vehicles. I grew up with a grandmother who was blind and never had the opportunity to enjoy a ride in the car without someone driving her. One of the first released videos from Google highlighting the technology showed a driver running errands around town, navigating the roads with ease. It was only at the end of the video that you saw the individual was in fact blind. This video spoke to me personally and helped me realize the advantages this technology could offer aging seniors and many others who otherwise would never enjoy the ability to transport themselves.
With any new technology, there are new challenges. A top priority of mine and the House study committee will be to make sure this technology is implemented on Georgia roads in a safe and responsible way. No technology is ever fail-proof. We must put in place a system that is able to handle any liability issues that could arise, as well as make sure any information regarding personal travel habits remain private.
There is no silver bullet to our state’s transportation woes, but taking autonomous vehicles and their benefits seriously is one step our state can make to prepare for future growth. With our preparation, we will reassert our brand as the technological hub of the Southeast, bringing economic development opportunities and new, high-paying jobs to our state. Though signs point to the implementation of this technology being at least 10 years away, the time to prepare for tomorrow is certainly today.
State Rep. Trey Kelley, R-Cedartown, is leading the House study committee on driverless cars.
