How Self-Driving Cars Will Change the Roads

Once driverless cars become more widely adopted, the future of cars without human drivers looks bright—and much safer. With nearly 40,000 people killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2020 alone, autonomous vehicles can prevent accidents caused by human error and driver fatigue or impairment, Sanchez says.

Self-driving cars could also increase vehicle occupancy and efficiency, as well as reduce traffic congestion, according to Kelman. “This means that [autonomous vehicles] can move more people more continually, reducing the space needed to park cars and improving city design,” she explains.