By: FEMI OWOEYE
There is possibility that most future automobiles would be autonomous. In Western nations, UK for instance, insurance companies are concerned. They still can’t decipher who to blame in case of accidents. It seems tricky. After all, conventional practice is that, in case of accidents, driver of a vehicle, not necessarily owner is culpable.
Now we are talking of a driverless car. In case of an accident, who is to blame? Owners can’t be held responsible for an accident. Passengers too can’t be. Sounds difficult, doesn’t it? Certain analysts believe that manufacturers of the vehicles may have to mass insure them in case of accident caused by technology malfunctioning. Other school of thoughts believe third party insurance policy might simply disappear for good, which insurance companies would not like to imagine. Secondly, a claim might be too costly. Premiums too might have to go up. Alternatively, owners might have to insure autonomous cars with other household items.
For me, that will be sorted at the appropriate time. I am not so worried for insurance companies, because for ages, they have made free money from human motorists all over the world. They make billions and pay out little. It should be time for them to pay back. But I I doubt it. Rather there would be new legislations that would take care of the insurance companies.
I am worried about security. Ordinarily, in Nigeria, police, road safety marshals, VIOs and customs could stop a vehicle for routine check. In fact, at the borders of certain states, there are soldiers mounting checkpoints, looking into suspected vehicles to checkmate free movement of terrorists. Now, when the autonomous vehicles become Free-for-all, which I believe will be soon, how would law-enforcement agents check on them? Are we not heading for a big risk of a technology that will become an effective destructive tool for terrorists, hackers and car snatchers? This might sound silly. But my concern is how the technology works. It shall be operated like the sat-nav. Before setting out on a journey, owner would enter destination address and post-code, press enter and probably press DRIVE on a remote control and the future autonomous car would maybe communicate with him or her thus:
Car: I am ready for the journey to the CM13 7DD; are you ready?
Passenger: Yes I am.
Car: Hear we go!!
And while on motion, a passenger can make cup of tea, watch movie, make phone calls, work on tablets or even have a
nap and be woken up by the car’s automated voice that will continuously repeat: “You have now reach your destination.” Just like the sat-nav.
Recently the FBI pointed out that driverless cars could potentially be a threat as terrorists could gain control of the vehicles for attacks. Truly, what if the passenger in the car is a terrorist with bomb strapped round his or her waste? He or she could set destination address to a big supermarket or airport or bus terminus, or stadium during a big match. Automotive technology experts should begin to think about this aspect before terrorists mass-produce autonomous vehicle for destruction of human race.
I rest my case, not my writing.
Many thanks.
