There is a tendency for drivers of smart cars to become complacent. Some have the attitude that whatever happens when the car is in autonomous driving mode, their smart car can handle it. The problem is that, as the car owner, you are responsible for what the car does if it is involved in an accident, which is what a car accident lawyer will likely tell you.
Why defensive driving still matters in the age of smart cars
While your car may be a smart car it is not infallible. Defensive driving is still a wise choice when on the road because certain conditions are riskier for driving and other drivers are not necessarily in a smart car.
Your smart car is designed to react to triggers. Defensive drivers focus more on making useful judgements, such as knowing, in advance, that a road hazard is coming up on a daily commute before it can be seen by the smart car. Relying too heavily on smart car technology can be a mistake. Human intervention at the right moment can save the day and avoid a bad accident.
Let’s consider some examples of how defensive driving can help and lower your chances of having an accident when using a smart car.
Bad weather increases the risk
Heavy rain reduces traction. Light rain after an extended period of no rain can be even more dangerous due to the buildup of oil in the centre of the lane from the cars that dripped oil as they passed by. Add a little moisture on top of the oil residue and the road may become slick as glass.
Black ice is another example. It is impossible to see but as a defensive driver, you know that it can be on the road in a shaded area, such as under a freeway overpass. A smart car does not necessarily know this.
Smart systems can help with normal driving but defensive driving in bad weather is still needed. Human supervision of your smart car’s driving should be heightened for bad weather, including heavy rain, ice, snow, fog, or other conditions causing limited visibility.
Your smart car vs dumb human drivers
Just because your smart car can drive itself pretty well, it does not change the reality that there are other dangerous drivers on the road. Bad human drivers can cause problems by running red lights or stop signs. They can drift across lanes when distracted, such as when talking on a cell phone.
Other drivers may brake suddenly for road hazards you cannot see when following behind them, or drive too fast in unsafe conditions, and, worst of all, drive aggressively or emotionally.
Defensive driving anticipates problems before they occur such as seeing a car going too fast when approaching an intersection or noticing that a pedestrian is about to step off the curb or giving an impaired driver a wide berth to swerve on the road and thereby avoid an accident.
Liability falls on the smart car owner
Regardless of the smart driving system your car may have, under the law if you are the owner/operator of the vehicle, you are responsible for any accidents that are your car’s fault.
You will want to make sure you maintain safe distances from other vehicles, adjust the driving due to road and weather conditions, anticipate hazards, and act with reasonably good judgement without completely relying on the car alone.
Defensive driving, in combination with the safety features of your smart car, can reduce crash rates and lower the severity of any injury if an accident happens. Skilled defensive drivers learn how to work with the technology and not surrender to complete autonomous control without proper human supervision. Defensive driving is not outdated. There is still a need for it, and it is evolving along with the technology in smart cars.
Samantha Green, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
