Baltimore Truck Accident Lawyers: Driverless Trucks May be the Future
May 23, 2016It is a well-known fact in the trucking industry that truck accidents involving big-rigs and 18-wheelers can be catastrophic, resulting in serious injuries and fatalities. Autonomous driving technology has been gaining traction in the personal vehicle market in recent years, and the trucking industry is following suit. Three trucking manufacturers, including Mercedes, Volvo, and Scania, will be testing their driverless heavy-trucks as part of a project called Future Truck, which is sponsored by the European company, Foro Coches Electricos.
To many in the trucking industry, testing the autonomous driving technology in commercial trucks makes sense due to the nature of trucking routes. The majority of driving is done on freeways with fixed, predictable routes. What is particularly interesting is how the manufacturers are testing these trucks. Instead of a simulated track, the trucks will be tested on an actual stretch of highway. This will provide real, valuable data on how the trucks perform, with a focus on safety and efficiency. Because the tractor tailers are being tested on a real highway, they will require more safety features than if they were being tested on a simulated track. The trucks will operate over a 600-kilometer stretch of highway that runs between Stuttgart, Germany and Rotterdam, Holland.
According to industry officials, there are numerous benefits to support this approach, including the following:
- Driverless trucks are potentially more efficient due to their more stable, predictable pace.
- Autonomous vehicles can form caravans that have the ability to cut through a single tunnel of air only once.
- Driverless trucks can ultimately save a significant amount of money by eliminating drivers’ salaries.
- Automated vehicles may be safer, less costly, and allow for smaller, more frequent loads.
With the current technology, the Future Truck program has shown a 10% improvement in driverless truck efficiency. As the technology improves, it is expected that these trucks will perform even better when it comes to efficiency, safety, and savings.
Maryland Truck Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Fight for Victims of Truck Accidents
Driverless trucks may be the wave of the future, but if you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a truck accident involving one of these autonomous vehicles, you are urged to contact the Maryland truck accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton. We have a proven track record of securing the maximum financial compensation for our clients and we will not stop fighting on your behalf until justice has been served. For a free case review, call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online.
Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Towson, allowing us to represent truck accident victims throughout Maryland, including those is Anne Arundel Count, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Parkville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood and Elkridge.
