Are driverless trucks safe? Supporters of the technology say driverless trucks may be safer than human-operated trucks, but concerns about potential safety issues, such as sensor failures, software bugs, responses to complex scenarios, and performance in bad weather, remain.
If you are involved in an accident with a driverless truck, our Arlington truck accident lawyer may be able to assist.
Driverless Truck Safety in Texas
Texas is among the states that allow fully autonomous trucks to operate without a human driver in the cab, subject to certain legal and operational requirements. The rollout began with in-cab human oversight, but the makers of autonomous trucks say their self-driving systems have improved to the point that human oversight is no longer necessary.
They maintain that driverless trucks are inherently safer because they eliminate risks such as distracted or impaired driving and driver fatigue. Texas lawmakers believe that they are exercising sufficient caution by requiring special authorization from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV).
On the other hand, critics worry that Texas is being used as a testing ground to determine whether driverless trucks are safe, potentially at the risk of other road users’ safety. They say there is insufficient transparent data to support claims about driverless truck safety.
Concerns About Sensor Failures
Autonomous trucks rely on laser, radar, camera, and lidar sensors to monitor road conditions and traffic. Although they offer a 360-degree view that no human driver could access, there are concerns about sensor failure.
The makers of autonomous trucks counter these concerns by pointing to redundancy in their sensor systems. Views overlap, and if one sensor were to fail, they say others can take over. However, a survey of sensor failures in autonomous vehicles highlights the vulnerabilities inherent to each sensor type.
Lidar and cameras are particularly sensitive to rough weather, while ultrasonic and radar sensors are vulnerable to interference, raising concerns about the safety of driverless trucks in adverse conditions.
Software Bugs May Introduce New Dangers
We’re used to seeing software glitches as a minor inconvenience. When that software controls a 40-ton truck, a glitch or bug can have catastrophic consequences for people nearby. While this nightmare has not become a reality, concerns remain. After all, software may be:
- Vulnerable to cybersecurity breaches: Concerns have been raised about potential cybersecurity risks, including unauthorized access or interference.
- Subject to reliability challenges: Software must be prepared to handle an almost endless variety of operational challenges and suboptimal conditions.
- Replacing human error with coding errors: A coding error could have unpredictable consequences, posing risks for other road users.
Texas regulators have allowed autonomous trucks to operate under existing legal frameworks, implying belief in their safety. There are even some critics who believe the technology may ultimately enhance road safety. However, certain safety concerns and legal debates remain unresolved.
Reactions to Complex Situations
It’s likely that autonomous trucks will perform well in predictable driving conditions and that their software is equipped for many contingencies. Nevertheless, it would be extremely challenging to cater to every possible eventuality. What may happen if a combination of unexpected events were to occur remains uncertain.
Bad Weather Performance May Pose Risks
The impact of bad weather on sensor performance is a safety concern that raises public questions about whether driverless trucks are safe. For instance, Lidar performance is severely affected by rain, snow, and fog. Reduced range and perception challenges may lead to inappropriate reactions.
In many instances, driverless truck systems are trained to respond by slowing down or pulling over when they encounter sensor overload. In addition, AI operating systems are being trained to operate in poor weather, and makers claim their sensors can handle low-visibility conditions better than human drivers.
Are Driverless Trucks Safe? Access to Real-World Safety Data is Limited
The data needed to determine how safe driverless trucks are may exist. Trucking companies have been gathering it for years, but publicly available data is extremely limited. Even if we were to have access to it, much of the data would relate to limited trials, and there would be no data on a world in which autonomous trucks are used at scale.
Companies may release certain performance metrics, but there is still a lack of standardization. Differences in testing environments, operating conditions, and reporting standards can make it difficult to draw firm conclusions on whether driverless trucks are safer than their human-driven counterparts.
Liability if a Driverless Truck Causes a Crash
Practical questions, such as who could be liable if a driverless truck caused an accident, are fair to ask. As with all accidents, who is liable in a truck accident will be determined by the facts of the case. If the truck is determined to be at fault for the accident, liable parties may include:
- The owner or operator of the truck: A lawyer might try to show that they didn’t check whether the truck was safe to use or didn’t oversee its operation.
- Manufacturers or developers: In the case of autonomous cars, they could be liable due to defects in design, manufacturing, or software.
- Third parties: Other parties that may be liable include negligent maintenance providers, negligent loaders of cargo, or contractors.
Driverless trucks are a comparatively new development, and their numbers are expected to increase over time. It’s possible that dealing with driverless truck accidents may become part of what truck accident lawyers do as a matter of routine. Naturally, the hope is that they will prove safer than human-driven trucks, reducing overall risk for other road users.
If You are Harmed, The Texas Law Dog is There for You
At The Texas Law Dog, we have been monitoring developments in autonomous trucking and adapting to changes in the legal landscape. If driverless trucks are safe, we look forward to fewer drivers suffering the consequences of truck accidents.
If they are not as safe as has been hoped, we will work to identify liable parties and may call them to account. We strive to protect your rights in an ever-changing world characterized by technological progress.
