The long-fetched dream of driving an automatic car that will take you to your destination with only a few commands is now inevitable. Our vision is coming into reality with the advances in the automobile industry and engineers’ research.
Although Canada was falling behind in this area of innovation, the Government has taken initiatives so that this thriving industry can flourish in Canada as well.
However, during these sudden changes, people are now concerned about the future impact of self-driving cars in Canada, the laws regarding them and the safety margin.
This article will find the possible scenarios about this upcoming evolution in these everyday used vehicles.
Are Self Driving Cars legal in Canada?
The answer to this question is both yes and no. It is illegal to drive a self-drive car all over Canada except in Ontario. The Government has permitted the Ontario province to drive such a car only for research and testing purposes.
However, it would be best if you were a participant in the pilot program or a member of the research team to do so.
Under strict conditions, the University of Waterloo, Uber, Magna, QNX BlackBerry are testing these vehicles to see if they are ready to lead the road. But any ordinary citizen still is not permitted to drive a self-driving car.
What Level of Self-Driving Car is Under Research in Canada?
Ontario Ministry of Transportation has mentioned that self-driving cars will be able to detect their surrounding through AI tech, global positioning system coordinates, and sensors.
Even though you are not required to put your hands behind the wheels, you still need to stay conscious to give commands to the car’s central system.
Also, you may have to take control of the vehicle if the system alerts you of any possible danger ahead that it cannot comprehend. Depending on the level of automation, these cars will be divided into 5 categories:
- Level One: Cars can control either one of the specific features such as brake(automatic) or cruise control.
- Level Two: Cars can take control of two simultaneous functions: acceleration and brake. The driver will still be in complete control of the vehicle.
- Level Three: Advanced technology ensures passengers’ safety and takes control of the critical features. But it will still alert the driver when needed.
- Level Four: Almost all the autonomous functions command the car’s mainframe system and can make decisions but not always.
- Level Five: Can use Radar, Cameras, LiDAR, and AI to analyze paths, highways, cars around it, crosswalks, signals, and drive like an actual person.
As you can see, the level five automation will be able to replace you from the driving seat. However, will you feel safe in a car like that, or what will happen if the automatic system malfunctions and causes a collision?
After discussing the pros and cons of having self-driving cars in Canada, we will come back to your question.
Pros of Self-Driving Cars Canada:
- Self-parking feature will reduce your stress
- AI can analyze the surroundings and avoid accidents
- Ensuring fewer traffic congestion is possible using AI tech
- Focusing on other tasks like meetings or readings while driving
- Safe transportation for the elderly, disabled, non-drivers and kids is possible
- Eliminating the impact of sudden brakes and acceleration will reduce fuel consumption
Cons of Self-Driving Cars Canada:
- Expenses for cars and maintenance will be much higher than usual
- Hacking the system will compromise your data
- Unexpected faulty code can cause an accident
- Extreme weather conditions can lead to system failure
- The poor internet connection can cause miscommunication with other vehicles
- Recognizing pedestrians and bicyclists is still not perfect for the AI
- Misread any situation, road structure or weather
Thus, we can only hope that the engineers will be able to overcome the obstacles and turn self-driving cars into flawless innovations. They indeed have a long way to go to make the car safe. But still, one question remains. And that is-
What Will Be the Impacts on Car Injury Laws and Insurances?
Undoubtedly, the authority will significantly change the laws regarding automatic automobiles. Since Canada Self Driving cars have still not reached industry standards, it will take some time to decide on the changes in the rules and insurances about such vehicles. A self-driving car accident settlement in Canada is also in the early stages.
However, the experts are already predicting the changes that should be made regarding the automation of the vehicle. They can be as follows:
- Determination of Premiums
- Coverage after accidents
- Liability for accidents
All of these will depend on the automation mentioned above.
There is still a lot to discuss who will be liable after a car accident caused by any error of the automation system. The lawmakers in Canada and the insurance companies are still deciding how to stay in a neutral position and provide proper justice in such cases.
But you do not need to worry because the laws will be final before the Self-drive cars are introduced all over Canada. Make sure to keep yourself updated when ICBC upgrades the rules.
Regardless of the law update, make sure you claim compensation if you suffer after an accident caused by a semi-automatic or full-automatic car.
When Will Self-Driving Cars be Available in Canada
Self-driving cars in Canada will be available after the researcher gives the green light about all the necessary safety features. Till now, such research is going on the Government approved institutions, and they also have permission to start production after completing their study.
Renowned companies named BlackBerry-QNX collaboration, Erwin Hymer Group and the Automotive Research Center of Waterloo University in Ontario have dedicated their workforce to initiating the project in Canada.
Moreover, the Government has also spent $2.95 million to support the autonomous industry in Canada. So, start your savings if you want to buy your first self-driving car within the next decade.
Conclusion:
According to the NY Times, two people died in a car crash last year in April, and the car in the accident was driverless- Tesla. Several more accidents have also been recorded since humankind was blessed with technology for the very first time.
Therefore, we cannot trust self-driving Cars in Canada with our eyes closed. We have no other choice but to patiently wait for the good news that engineers have narrowed down the possibilities of car crashes while driving on auto-pilot mode.