Self-driving cars will bring benefits

According to preliminary figures, there were 5,984 pedestrian deaths in 2017, and this figure is not expected to be much different in 2018. If the average deaths per month is 500, then 1,500 deaths have already occurred in 2018.

On March 19, one of those 1,500 deaths (and I emphasize one) involved a self-driving car.

About 40,000 people die every year in automobile accidents and almost all of them are caused by driver error. I wonder how many of these deaths could be avoided if all cars were self driving. That day is coming and, unfortunately, I won't see it.

Every advance in technology benefits us in one way or another. I can almost hear the naysayers shouting about the who will die every year with self-driving cars and neglecting to mention the 40,000 current deaths.

Roger McCullough

Cedar Rapids