http://blog.talkingphilosophy.com/?p=8619
EXCERPT: [...] One of the main selling points of driverless cars is that they are supposed to be significantly safer than humans. [...] Assuming that the significant increase in safety pans out, this means that there will be significantly fewer accidents and this will have a variety of effects.
Since insurance rates [...] might [...] go down. In any case, insurance companies will presumably be paying out less, potentially making them even more profitable.
Lower accident rates also entail fewer injuries [...] On the minus side, this would mean less business for hospitals, therapists and other medical personnel [...]
A reduction in the number and severity of accidents would also mean fewer traffic fatalities. [...] On the minus side, funeral homes will see their business postponed and the reduction in deaths could have other impacts [...]
[...] less and lower repair bills for vehicle owners, this also entails reduced business for vehicle repair businesses. [...]
Another economic impact of self-driving vehicles will be in the area of those who make money driving other people. [...]
As a final point, if self-driving vehicles operate within the traffic laws [...] automatically, then the revenue from tickets and traffic violations will be reduced significantly. [...] the policing of roads might be significantly reduced...
EXCERPT: [...] One of the main selling points of driverless cars is that they are supposed to be significantly safer than humans. [...] Assuming that the significant increase in safety pans out, this means that there will be significantly fewer accidents and this will have a variety of effects.
Since insurance rates [...] might [...] go down. In any case, insurance companies will presumably be paying out less, potentially making them even more profitable.
Lower accident rates also entail fewer injuries [...] On the minus side, this would mean less business for hospitals, therapists and other medical personnel [...]
A reduction in the number and severity of accidents would also mean fewer traffic fatalities. [...] On the minus side, funeral homes will see their business postponed and the reduction in deaths could have other impacts [...]
[...] less and lower repair bills for vehicle owners, this also entails reduced business for vehicle repair businesses. [...]
Another economic impact of self-driving vehicles will be in the area of those who make money driving other people. [...]
As a final point, if self-driving vehicles operate within the traffic laws [...] automatically, then the revenue from tickets and traffic violations will be reduced significantly. [...] the policing of roads might be significantly reduced...