Have you ever found yourself needing to get out of a really tight parking lot, and hoped a genie would grant your wish to magically get your vehicle out of there? How about being stuck in traffic? Don’t you wish you could just relax while someone else does the driving for you?

We're sure you sometimes think about these problems, and solving them is exactly what pushed the automotive industry towards autonomous technology. Any successful company knows that solving the customer’s problems is the first step towards building brand loyalty and boosting sales. But in a short period, we moved from intelligent parking assist systems to building driverless cars and trucks. Evidently, this move has come with unprecedented risks.

Data released by the U.S. safety regulators highlights automakers reported nearly 392 crashes of automobiles with partially automated driver-assist systems in 11 months. “Tesla's crashes accounted for nearly 70% of the 392 reported by the dozen automakers,” says National Public Radio. Some argue that autopilots and several driver-assistance features have made driving more dangerous. But is it true? And what other problems plague the industry?

Related: What Most People Don’t Understand About Future Autonomous Cars

Self-Driving Cars Are Linked To Increase In Crashes

Autonomous Driving Technology
Via: Hyundai

The biggest problem is the over-reliance of some drivers on the autopilot or the driver-assist systems. As drivers start trusting the autopilot more, they become more distracted and disengaged; thus, they entrust the control of their car to the AI algorithms that power their vehicle. This process creates incredible safety risks.

Sure enough, Tesla’s ongoing struggles with the autopilot and other driver-assist features showcases the serious safety risks of the technology. At the end of the day, most people agree that human drivers can react faster to unpredictable situations than AI algorithms. So, why entrust self-driving cars with the responsibility of safeguarding your life?

Self-Driving Cars: Completely Autonomous Vehicles Are Vulnerable To Cyber Attacks

a driver enjoying a self-driving car
via: Reddit

Putting something so precious, like your own life in the hands of a machine doesn’t seem as the smartest idea. And the same logic applies even for your personal information and individual credentials. Data breaches have become so common lately that we are not even surprised anymore when we get an email from our bank, or through social media platform, informing us they had a data breach and our info was compromised. And despite the risks and negative experiences, some people share their personal data with more platforms, machines, and apps instead of adding another layer of protection.

In the case of driverless vehicles, the risks of cyber attacks are even more frightening because the owner hasn't only become open to the risk of identity theft, but also personal injury. Hackers can access your car remotely and gain full control of it; thus, they can steal it with your belongings inside or drive it off a hill. Even worse, they could cause traffic deaths, making you liable for the accidents.

There have been several hacks. One was a scenario in which hackers remotely accessed a Jeep Cherokee with the driver inside the vehicle, while the automobile was speeding down the highway at 70 mph. Although this was a planned event that was intended to present the risks associated with modern technology, the driver didn’t know when the event would happen, so he couldn’t prepare accordingly. Imagine finding yourself in a similar situation!

Related: These Vehicles Are The Closest You’ll Get To Fully Autonomous Driving For The 2022-Year Model

Self-Driving Cars: Emerging Tech Leads To More Traffic Congestion And Pollution

AI Self Driving Cars Cropped
Via Medium

If you think the traffic in your city is now congested and the environment contaminated, imagine a reality in which everyone will be inside a driverless car. This includes even the people who don’t have a driving license, the individuals who avoid driving because they are mediocre or bad drivers, and those who were prohibited to drive because of substance abuse. Basically, every single individual will practically be behind a wheel, yet they aren't driving. This will ultimately lead to having millions of self-driving cars on the road, polluting and poisoning the air in our communities.

Research from the University of Adelaide emphasizes that driverless cars could exacerbate traffic congestion in the upcoming decades because of shifting driver attitudes. According to the research, owners of autonomous vehicles won’t show “willingness to share their rides.”

Meanwhile, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mentions that an average vehicle's fuel economy is about 22.0 miles per gallon and drives around 11,500 miles per year, emits roughly 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. Imagine what these figures will become when we eventually have more cars on the road due to the self-driving.