Traffic Accidents

commentary

How to Make Roads Safer for Autonomous Vehicles

Roadways and vehicle design could be modified to better accommodate both human error and the shortcomings of autonomous vehicle systems.

Laura Fraade-Blanar

commentary

Teens Are Driving Drowsy Every Day, and That's Dangerous

About 1 in 10 car crashes are caused by drowsy driving, and young drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 account for more than half of them. Many parents unwittingly allow their teens to drive while tired on a daily basis.

Wendy M. Troxel @wendytroxel

article

Why Waiting for Perfect Autonomous Vehicles May Cost Lives

Some people think autonomous vehicles must be flawless before humans take their hands off the wheel. But putting AVs on the road before they're perfect improves the technology more quickly—and could save hundreds of thousands of lives over time.

commentary

Tesla Fatal Crash Reminds That Human Interface Remains Important

The first reported fatality in a self-driving vehicle is a chilling reminder that the evolving relationship with increasingly robotic motor vehicles needs to be a partnership, an undertaking with humans and machines managing the risks.

Shawn McKay

commentary

Fatal Crash Shouldn't Kill Self-Driving Cars

The first known fatality in an autonomous vehicle occurred on May 7 and raises important questions. It does not, however, mean that self-driving cars are less safe than human drivers or that development of the technology should be stopped.

Nidhi Kalra

commentary

A New Tool to Assess the Costs and Effectiveness of Traffic Crash Interventions

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in the U.S. An online tool can help policymakers understand the available evidence-based interventions that can help prevent crash injuries and deaths, what they will cost, and how effective they will be in their state.

Liisa Ecola, Jeanne S. Ringel @JeanneRingel

commentary

With Driverless Cars, How Safe Is Safe Enough?

Waiting for autonomous vehicles to operate perfectly misses opportunities to save lives by keeping far-from-perfect human drivers behind the wheel.

Nidhi Kalra

commentary

To Hit the Road, Driverless Cars Must Be Safe, Not Perfect

Once driverless cars are safer than the average human driver, they should be allowed to hit the road. Indeed, waiting for autonomous vehicles to be perfect would be its own safety concern because it would mean the needless perpetuation of the risks posed by human drivers.

Nidhi Kalra

essay

The Dream Drive

Autonomous vehicle technology is already here: Cars park themselves, alert drivers to impending dangers, and even apply the brakes in emergencies. But what will it take to unlock its potential for major societal benefits?

commentary

What If Distracted Driving Was Safe?

According to consumer research, the ability to consume media, write an email, or even sleep during transport is a key selling point for autonomous vehicles (self-driving cars), which could be widely available in the fairly near future. Autonomous vehicle technology could also produce a wide range of public benefits.

James M. Anderson

commentary

California's Misguided Approach

Despite the frequency with which people are convicted of multiple DUI offenses, California continues to require that all individuals with a DUI attend a 30- or 60-hour education program. However, these programs aren't that effective.

Katherine E. Watkins

blog

A New Approach to Reducing Drunk Driving and Domestic Violence

Beau Kilmer, codirector of the RAND Drug Policy Research Center, discusses South Dakota's 24/7 Sobriety Project, which requires those arrested for or convicted of alcohol-related offenses to take twice-a-day breathalyzer tests or wear a continuous monitoring bracelet. Those who fail or skip their tests are immediately subject to modest sanctions—typically a day or two in jail.

Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer

commentary

A Risk to Themselves

Drivers 65 and older are only 16 percent more likely per mile driven to cause a traffic accident than are drivers ages 25–64. And their total contribution to the nation's traffic accidents is surprisingly small, writes David S. Loughran.

David S. Loughran

commentary

Green But Unsafe

Published commentary by RAND staff: Green But Unsafe, in Wall Street Journal, Europe Edition.

John D. Graham