Over the past few months, there have been several articles about what might happen in an era of self-driving cars. Last year, the San Diego Union Tribune had an op-ed article by Ian Adams and Arthur Rizer titled: "Autonomous Vehicles Could Change Everything You Know About Traffic Stops"
I've thought about this a lot since I first heard about self-driving cars. What will happen to our culture as we need fewer police due to self-driving cars?
As Adams & Rizer mentioned traffic stops for driving or vehicle problems are often pretenses for checking driver and passenger for other more serious offenses -- smuggling, drugs, kidnapping, weapons, immigration violations, car theft, escaped or wanted criminals etc. Presumably the police have some success with these other arrests when stopping cars for these minor traffic offenses. So if they can no longer do it, will there be more criminals getting away with crimes?
What else might change in an era of self driving cars?
- It seems that self-driving cars will probably be more expensive than the equivalent traditional car. If those cars are more expensive, people may consider leasing or renting rather than buying cars. They also might consider using services similar to Uber/Lyft to only use cars when they need them. That will shift the capital cost to those companies and save users from those costs. Citizens could then eliminate having parking garages. They wouldn't need to hunt for parking spots or parking meters. They would no longer need to register cars or buy insurance themselves.
- Police boredom -- Police will not have as many chores for traffic violations or helping with accidents -- will they be bored? Or will governments consider reducing police budgets and the number of officers on duty? With fewer highway patrol, and fewer infractions, we will need fewer courts, fewer judges, fewer court reporters, fewer balifs etc.
- Less Insurance, fewer car repairs - If there are fewer accidents, there will be fewer car repairs. The cash flow through insurance companies and repair shops will be reduced.
- Parking enforcement -- If more people use self-driving services and not own their cars they won't need to find parking spots. Uber-like services can park in large garages in last-in-first-out configurations, which will take up much less space than current parking arrangements. Enforcement goes away as unneeded.
- Fewer adversarial engagements - Now police seem to spend a lot of their time pulling people over for traffic infractions. However with self-driving cars, we would think that most problems with speeding, illegal lane change, running stop signs or traffic lights will be eliminated. If most of these adversarial situations are eliminated, will the public image of police improve?
- No DUIs --If we don't drive, but depend upon our self-driving cars, we can drink alcohol and "ride" without worrying about DUIs. Police will no longer need to perform DUI checkpoints, or do sobriety tests for passengers in self-driving cars. That will reduce their workload, for sure. It will also help make for safer highways. But, in some ways, the concern about DUIs may have a moderating effect on drinking. If people no longer are worried about DUIs, will that lead to more alcohol/drug abuse?
- Market for Entertainment --If we don't have to drive cars, we will have more idle time in cars. We can engage in more involved entertainment, such as video games, watching videos, texting, or studying. The need for pure "audio-based" entertainment such as listening to music or talk radio might go away.
The Transition to self-driving cars may take many years --while people. Nostalgia lovers may keep current design cars forever. Will they be banned from some roads? Will they be required to install a chip?
