It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, No—It’s a Self-Driving Car? The Most Important Thing To Happen To The Automotive Sector in 2019

Ten years ago, the idea of a self-driving car was unfathomable to the average human being. But today, self-driving cars are in the lane next to you on the streets—and you likely wouldn’t even know. The first time I got in a self-driving car was in Las Vegas, and the entire experience felt completely foreign to me—it turns something you’ve gotten used to all your life into a totally new concept. 

While Lyft was the first platform that introduced me to the everyday concept of a self-driving car, well-known car companies all over the world are beginning to market self-driving cars to everyday people. And while self-driving cars aren’t yet officially available to the general population, major auto companies across the world are making the shift to Automated Driving Systems (ADS) in droves, as was recently covered in The Motley Fool.

The slow adoption of self-driving vehicles by these companies has not extended to a number of major brands, however. Beyond just Lyft and Uber, the likes of Walmart, Domino’s and DoorDash have gotten in on the autonomous vehicle action in various capacities this year, too. 

While this system doesn’t fully take control of the vehicle and still requires the driver to focus, it is making everyday commutes easier. ADS helps control braking, speed detection and even helps the car from swerving. Business Insider tells us that for the time being, we are still taking control of our automobiles, but by 2020, we could see a massive increase in self-driving cars. While this an exciting concept to think about, are we really ready to live in a world where people pay even less attention to the road?