No Oversight
Since this new technology is in its infancy, there are no regulations governing development. Information about this new industry is limited, making it difficult to set safety standards. As of now, it is the wild west—dozens of companies want to be the first to design, develop, market, and sell self-driving cars with little to no oversight from the government or industry experts.
No Accountability
Companies are putting a lot of faith into their engineering and programming teams, as they will hold them accountable for every eventuality that could occur on the road. There is an infinite amount of problems that could happen when driving from point A to B in an autonomous vehicle. What happens when the car hits something or someone? The last thing these companies want is to become flooded with lawsuits.
More Accidents
At some point, self-driving and traditional cars will likely share the roads, which could possibly lead to more accidents. There’s an ebb and flow to roadways—people that drive them every day understand this and can account for it when making decisions. The concern is if this new technology will be able to do the same.
Hackers Taking Control
Any computer, device, or car connected to the internet is vulnerable to hacking. In spite of all the firewalls and protections companies put in place, a hacker could gain control of self-driving cars. Once in control, the car and passengers will be at the mercy of the hacker. Additionally, private data that the car stores will also be accessible and exploitable.
Radiation Exposure
These cars will have all sorts of electronics on board; we can expect to see Wi-Fi, GPS, remote controls, Bluetooth, radio, and screens to keep passengers entertained. However, all these gadgets could expose people to higher levels of electromagnetic radiation. Continued exposure to electronic radiation can lead to health problems such as high blood pressure, difficulty breathing, migraines, and an increased risk of getting cancer.