Some people in the western tech community are calling for a driverless car lane along the I-5 Cascadia Corridor between Seattle and Vancouver within the next decade.
According to a report, put together by the Madrona Venture Group, an “autonomous vehicle plan” for that area would reduce congestion, improve the travel experience, reduce accidents and make travel time more productive.
“Committing to this vision would not only benefit all who use this corridor but would also demonstrate to the world our Cascadia region’s status as a leading global center of innovation where governments and private enterprises can work in partnership to solve human problems,” they write.
At first, driverless cars, which they argue will be on the market and safe within five to ten years, would share the HOV lanes. After more of them hit the scene, eventually they would get their own lane.
“There are many benefits from autonomous vehicles, but the principal benefit is that it allows drivers to recapture all the time otherwise spent behind the wheel,” they argue.
The two and a half hour drive from Seattle to Vancouver could be spent watching TV, preparing for a business meeting and more.
“It is difficult to place a dollar value on this but one source has estimated this at more than $1 trillion a year in the U.S. Because of wireless and software technologies we can be entertained or productively engaged wherever, whenever.”
The report also states that the U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx says up to 25,000 road deaths could have been prevented last year if driverless cars were in operation.
What do you think about taking a driverless car to work?
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