It’s become a rite of passage in the United States. Somewhere around the age of sixteen, teenagers often get their driver’s license and move one step closer to adulthood. Thanks to the invention of the automobile this phenomenon has been commonplace for the last century. Teens get licensed and often find new freedom and independence from their parents, but this may all change soon. Drivers may not need licenses because we may be living in a world of cars controlled by supercomputers. Experts argue that this will change society for the better and be an especially positive move forward in the world of transportation and teens.

Question

Driverless cars, also known as Automated Vehicles (AV), are on the cusp of taking over our roadways. Several companies are developing these high-tech vehicles. They claim they will solve the problems associated with teen drivers. These lofty assertions have led to one big question: How safe are driverless cars?

There are obvious safety advantages to a supercomputer controlling a vehicle rather than a teenager. To begin with, computers don’t consume alcohol. More than half of the injuries and deaths of teens due to auto accidents were alcohol related. Proponents of the driverless car note that drunk driving could quickly become a non-issue. Sober computers could save countless lives.

Another large contributor to teen deaths in car accidents is due to a failure to wear seatbelts. Nearly half of the teens between the ages of 16-19 that were killed in crashes in 2018 were unrestrained. With driverless cars, passengers may be required to buckle up while the car is in operation. This could encourage seat belt use among teens.

Human error is the primary cause of motor vehicle accidents. The fact that human driving errors are a leading cause of crashes is precisely why developers of the AV believe that driverless cars have the potential to be safer. They argue that computers don’t make errors. Technology is consistent and reliable when programmed to complete tasks. They believe that the challenge is in programming automated vehicles to know how to respond to every possible situation it may face. Developers claim this is possible.

The data is indisputable—teenage drivers are involved in and die more often in automobile accidents than drivers in any other age group. Yet, it is also clear that while supercomputers may have the potential to be safer drivers than humans, automated vehicles are not safer yet. According to Maria Martin in her article, 29 Must-Know Self-Driving Statistics, published in February of 2021, “…self-driving cars have a higher rate of accidents compared to human-driven cars, but the injuries are less serious. On average, there are 9.1 self-driving car accidents per million miles driven, while the same rate is 4.1 crashes per million miles for regular vehicles.”

It is crucial that driverless technology continue to be developed and studied. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the government entity responsible for highway safety, is committed to that cause. They are actively studying this issue and working alongside the creators of automated vehicles to ensure public safety. They are determined to answer the question, “Who is a safer driver? Humans or computers?” Until then...teens, keep practicing for that driving test!

4. How does the passage set help the reader understand the life-saving potential of automated vehicles? Use at least ONE detail from EACH text to suppor your answer. Write your answer in the space provided.

Answer 1

The passage effectively conveys the life-saving potential of automated vehicles by highlighting specific issues surrounding teen driving and emphasizing the advantages of driverless technology in addressing them.

Firstly, the passage points out the significant problem of alcohol consumption among teen drivers, stating that “more than half of the injuries and deaths of teens due to auto accidents were alcohol related.” This detail underscores how driverless cars, operated by supercomputers that “don’t consume alcohol,” could dramatically reduce accidents related to drunk driving, thus saving lives.

Secondly, it mentions the critical issue of seatbelt usage, noting that “nearly half of the teens between the ages of 16-19 that were killed in crashes in 2018 were unrestrained.” The passage suggests that with automated vehicles, passengers may be required to buckle up while the car is in operation, which could promote safety and encourage more consistent seatbelt use among teens.

Lastly, the passage highlights the potential for driverless cars to mitigate human error, stating, “human error is the primary cause of motor vehicle accidents.” It asserts that automated vehicles could be programmed to respond consistently to various driving situations, dramatically reducing the likelihood of accidents caused by human mistakes.

Together, these details illustrate how automated vehicles could improve safety for teen drivers and potentially save lives by addressing key issues such as alcohol use, seatbelt compliance, and human error on the road.