Self-Driving vehicles are set to revolutionise how we use the road. However, the technology that allows them to work is far from finished. Autonomous vehicles are still some way off being able to offer a workable service. They tend to get confused by unexpected variants to their experience. Self-Driving cars currently cannot compete with human drivers on any level. While they may still become the preeminent vehicles on the road – you are still likely to be a superior driver to your car.
Signage
The average human driver has the ability to differentiate between signage on the road. They also have the ability to tell that a sign is still a sign if it is damaged or otherwise visually altered. However, the technology that allows autonomous vehicles to read road signs often cannot do this. Tests show that even minor alterations to standard signage can prevent the technology from correctly identifying them and following their instructions.
Weather
It can be difficult to see through some types of weather. Driving in heavy rain or snow is certainly harder than on a clear sunny day. However, you can almost certainly still see where the road is while the weather is bad. Autonomous vehicles often find it difficult to differentiate between rain on the camera and physical objects in the road.
Wildlife
Living in an area with seagulls can be taxing. They tend to be loud when you want quiet, and can wreak havoc on your dustbins. They sometimes also get in the way when you are trying to drive. However, if you move your car towards them, they will probably fly away. Autonomous vehicles don’t understand this. They currently see seagulls in the road as fixed objects, and stop when they encounter them.
Driverless cars are still a thing of the future. While they might make our lives significantly easier, for now an experienced human driver is still superior. Professional drivers such as couriers and taxi drivers are often predicted to lose their jobs soon due to automation. This may still happen, but not for some time.