An academic looking into the future of driverless cars is warning the technology could put motorists in “dangerous situations” because of its susceptibility to failure. 

Dr Saber Fallah, Prof of Safe AI and Autonomy Director of Connected Automated Vehicles Research Lab at University of Surrey has told the Express newspaper of concerns motorists could become “overreliant” on the technology with drivers “complacent and less attentive” with automated tech on their cars.

“One major concern with self-driving vehicles is the risk of drivers over-relying on technology. As AI systems become more capable, there is a tendency for drivers to become complacent and less attentive, assuming the AI will handle all situations flawlessly,” he said.

“This over-reliance can lead to dangerous situations, particularly in scenarios where human intervention is still necessary.”

The Express quotes Dr Saber as saying motorists should keep their eyes on the road at all times even with automated technology in case systems don’t work as planned.

“Despite advancements, AI systems are not infallible. They can encounter limitations or failures, such as difficulty in interpreting complex driving environments, poor weather conditions, or unexpected obstacles,” he added.

“Over-reliance on AI can result in drivers being unprepared to take over control during such instances, potentially leading to accidents.”

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