If AI replaces humans as car drivers, 39,000 lives could be saved in US alone: Study

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Since an AI-powered autopilot never gets tired, drunk, or distracted, a new study suggests it could help save tens of thousands of lives each year. read more
Qualcomm is already redefining the automotive experience thanks to its Snapdragon Cockpit platform, which has powered cars like the XUV700 in India. Image Credit: Reuters
Self-driving cars aren't just a fancy tech novelty – they could be lifesavers. A new study analysing data from Waymo's autonomous vehicles shows that replacing human drivers with AI could prevent tens of thousands of deaths on American roads each year, according to a report from Vox.
The study has found that the self-driving system was involved in 85 per cent fewer serious injury crashes than human drivers. When applied nationally, the results are staggering: around 34,000 lives could be saved annually in the United States.
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The findings highlight both the promise and the challenges of autonomous vehicle technology.
Meanwhile data on fatal crashes remains limited, experts as citied in report say the potential safety benefits could be achieved by the technology. If self-driving autopilots and AI techniques can reduce crashes, the implications could be a ground-breaking transformation.
Though, we should also highlight the other side of the findings. In this era of the so-called AI boom, such studies are often used to attract investment. As far as saving lives is concerned, it has also been found that AI can make errors, and such autopilots can cause accidents—which may prove fatal.
Why AI might be the safer driver
Humans often drive while distracted, drowsy, angry, or worse—impaired. Even when fully alert, the human brain isn't well-equipped for the speed and split-second decisions required on the road. At 60 mph, a 2.5-second reaction delay means a vehicle will travel the length of two basketball courts before the driver can even hit the brakes.
The consequences of such delays are deadly. Globally, 1.2 million people die in road crashes every year. In the United States alone, there were an estimated 39,345 traffic fatalities in 2024 – equivalent to a bus full of people dying every 12 hours.
AI doesn't get tired, drunk, or distracted
What sets AI apart is simple, it doesn't need sleep, doesn't get emotional, and doesn't consume alcohol. AI systems can react faster, make more accurate decisions in complex traffic scenarios, and stay alert round the clock.
'If AI replaces humans as car drivers, we could see dramatic reductions in road fatalities,' the researchers noted.
While challenges remain – such as handling rare edge cases and building public trust—the direction is clear, safer roads are possible, and AI might just be the key.
And if nothing else, people might finally reclaim those three years of driving time—for reading, streaming Netflix, or simply relaxing.
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