The roads in Texas feature a variety of safety hazards. There’s quite a bit of commercial traffic traveling from south of the border into the rest of the United States and from one coast to the other. Texas is a hub for manufacturing and energy production, so many commercial vehicles begin their routes in Texas and transport oil or products elsewhere.
Each of those commercial trucks represents a degree of crash risk. Drivers paying attention in traffic may start to notice a new trend when passing semi-trucks. Texas is one of a handful of states allowing for an early rollout of self-driving or autonomous commercial trucks. Do these new trucks represent a serious safety concern for Texas motorists?
Autonomous trucks may eventually prove safer
Contrary to people’s knee-jerk reaction to the idea of self-driving vehicles, they might potentially be safe. After all, human error is a leading cause of serious collisions. According to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), approximately 87% of the crashes caused by semi-trucks relate to something that a truck driver does or does not do.
The elimination of human error by allowing computer software connected to various sensors to operate a vehicle could potentially diminish the number of crashes that ultimately occur. Of course, autonomous driving software is far from perfect. Manufacturers already including such programming and passenger vehicles have had to conduct multiple recalls and updates because of issues with their software.
If there are problems with self-driving trucks, they could cause crashes that kills multiple people at once. Additionally, self-driving vehicles simply cannot analyze and react to circumstances in the same thoughtful way that a human can. AI is not advanced enough yet to achieve that goal.
Who is liable for a self-driving truck crash?
The other consideration that may have people feeling concerned about self-driving trucks is the question of liability. If there isn’t a driver to blame, who is responsible for the aftermath of the crash?
In most cases, liability may fall to the transportation company using self-driving vehicles. However, manufacturers may also be partially to blame, especially if issues with hardware or software contribute to the wreck. The people in the other vehicle or their surviving family members may have a complicated process ahead when pursuing compensation after a crash caused by an autonomous vehicle.
Tracking concerns that may increase the chances of a semi-truck collision can help drivers stay safe on Texas roads. The degree of risk related to self-driving trucks remains uncertain, and only time will tell if these vehicles improve traffic safety or cause unnecessary collisions. Regardless, drivers involved in serious truck crashes can explore their options by reaching out to the team at Kastl Law, P.C. to discuss your circumstances.