One of the biggest changes you might see in 2018 - more people being chauffeured by driverless cars! Yes, the idea of you being driven by a car with a mind of its own is becoming less of a prediction and more of a reality - and it might happen sooner than you think. So, strap in - Jimmy Rhoades is breaking down the 3 ways that 2018 might be the year you hitch a ride in a self-driving car.
1. Self-Driving Buses
Some bus companies are looking to get you from Point A to Point B, with less of a headache, by using self-driving technology. The University of Michigan is just one spot planning to be a trendsetter in the world of driverless public transport - literally. There, students and tour takers will be able to use self-driving Mcity shuttles, to get where they need to go on the North Campus of the school - without the use of a driver.
College students have enough trouble finding change for the vending machine - now, they won't have to worry about needing change for a campus shuttle either.
2. Self-Driving Rideshare Rides
If you live in California, Arizona, or Pennsylvania, you can already hail a driverless Uber or Lyft. And with the relative success of the cars in those states, more cities around the country plan to hop on the self-driving rideshare train.
Currently, these cars still have human drivers in them, though the car is doing most of the heavy lifting. But, rideshare companies will eventually look to remove the drivers from their cars entirely; so, you can at least use 2018 as experiment year for riding in a self-driving car. That way, you can get used to the feeling of being a passenger in one, before the time comes where you'll be hailing a ride that has no one else in it but you.
3. In the Front Seat of Your Own Driverless Ride
As self-driving rides become more popular in the public sector, naturally, car companies are looking to get driverless cars on the road for private use. We already have cars that have pieces of self-driving technology in them, like automatic parallel parking features or automatic braking. But car companies are looking to make vehicles even more autonomous, and more accessible, by creating software that you could download into your own ride, or by creating self-driving rides you can buy.
You might think it's just the fancy, technologically advanced Teslas that'll be driverless on the road, but, even brands you know, and have at home, like General Motors, Ford, and Audi, are considering releasing autonomous vehicles for consumers. So, once you get used to riding in a public driverless ride - if you end up loving it, you'll soon be able to get your own.
Would you want to ride in a driverless car or would you rather do the driving yourself? Join the conversation on our Facebook page, @TheListShowTV.
