FI showroom red and grey logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Tech Society Says Automated Cars May Have Limited Future

Computing group says widespread daily use of such vehicles may never be safe or practical.

May 3, 2024
Tech Society Says Automated Cars May Have Limited Future

Full automation has been controversial, and accidents involving automated taxis have spurred some governmental curbs on their use.

Credit:

Pexels/Erik McIean

1 min to read


The Association for Computing Machinery shed doubt on the practicality of fully automated vehicles in a recent informational bulletin.

It said it’s unclear that automatic vehicles will ever reach the point of operating safely without direct driver engagement except in limited circumstances, such as controlled conditions on particular roads.

Ad Loading...

“Many more miles of AV driving are required to establish fully automated vehicles as safe enough to deploy on public roadways,” it said in the bulletin.

“The goal of many automated vehicle proponents is the routine and widespread use of fully automated vehicles on all public roads. For now, however, the feasibility of reaching that goal is uncertain as experimental automated vehicles have caused, and continue to cause, serious injuries and fatalities to public road users, as well as other problems.”

The association, which refers to itself as the world’s largest educational and scientific computing society, offered the perspective as informational rather than aimed at policy advocacy.

Full automation has been controversial, and accidents involving automated taxis have spurred some governmental curbs on their use, including in California, which suspended the deployment and permitting of General Motors’ Cruise driverless taxis in October. Many consumers have also expressed wariness about driverless cars.

Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today

More Showroom

Silver Subaru STI parked in lot.
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•October 14, 2026

New-Vehicle Prices Stay Put

Affordability pressures and model availability shaped new-vehicle sales in September, according to an analysis by Kelley Blue Book.

Read More →
White electric vehicle parked at charging station.
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•October 12, 2026

EV Buyer Consideration Shifts

What drives American consumers to purchase an electric vehicle is shifting as the question moves away from Should I?' to 'Which features and experience do I want to have?'

Read More →
Door handle in interior of new-looking vehicle
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•October 1, 2026

Year-to-Date Auto Sales Holding Their Own

A forecast through August shows that automakers have shifted strategies to keep deliveries and revenues up despite tariffs and other economic challenges.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Interior of BMW ix3 electric SUV with hilly landscape seen through windshield
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•September 28, 2026

Slow to Robo

Ten years of polling consumers shows autonomous vehicles’ profiles have risen considerably, but even more people now want at least some level of control if they go that route.

Read More →
Photo of red SUV parked outside a car dealership after dark
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•September 9, 2026

Dealers a Little Down

A third-quarter Cox Automotive survey finds them in a mixed mood, bummed by fallen customer traffic but encouraged by better profits, costs and EV interest.

Read More →
Silver car driving down road with graphic that says “Europe Plugs In”
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•September 9, 2026

European EV Sales Skyrocket

The EV market on the continent held strong in July with almost 25% of new-car sales being fully electric units, a stark contrast to the U.S., where EV sales declined about 42%.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Mitsubishi shadow line-up
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•August 25, 2026

Mitsubishi Unveils U.S. Plan

The automaker announced a strategy that includes an expanded lineup and dealership presence, along with more ‘rugged’ and electric models.

Read More →
A rear view of a red Hyundai Elantra
Showroom•by Hannah Mitchell•August 17, 2026

Used Lots Getting the Business

Many consumers are seeking out the units to save money, and the demand – higher in July than normal – is keeping supply limited and prices up.

Read More →
outside shot of two trucks in front of a body of water with a cloudy sky
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•July 29, 2026

Used Market Stabilizes

The Carfax Used Car Index noted a major drop in used-vehicle price increases in July after several months of hikes.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Twilight of white hybrid car.
Showroom•by Lauren Lawrence•July 22, 2026

California Hybrids Reach State Record

The Golden State still leads the country in electric-vehicle registrations, but much like the rest of the U.S. its hybrid market share is up while full electrics stabilize after a dramatic first-quarter dip.

Read More →