Top 10 Myths About Self-Driving Cars

Autonomous vehicles attract myths like magnets. Let's tackle some of the most common ones, quickly and clearly.

Myth 1: "Self-driving cars have to be perfect before they're allowed on roads."

No transportation system is perfect — not human drivers, not trains, not planes.

AVs don't need to be flawless to be useful. They need to be demonstrably safer than typical human driving in the conditions where they operate, and continuously improving.

Myth 2: "Every car with driver-assist features is a self-driving car."

Features like adaptive cruise control and lane keeping can feel impressive, but they are still driver-assist.

If you must pay attention and be ready to take over, you are still the driver, not the software.

Myth 3: "Self-driving cars will instantly eliminate all driving jobs."

AVs will change some roles over time, but:

• Professional drivers do a wide range of tasks beyond just "steering"
• Adoption varies by region, regulation, and use case
• New jobs emerge in operations, remote assistance, maintenance, mapping, and more

It's a transition, not an overnight switch.

Myth 4: "The car 'chooses who to save' in a crash."

You may hear about hypothetical "trolley problem" scenarios. In practice:

• AVs are designed to avoid crashes as their top priority
• They don't have a menu of moral choices in real time
• Most policies focus on reducing overall risk, staying within lanes, and minimizing severe outcomes

The ethics matter, but everyday driving is mostly about not getting near a crash in the first place.

Myth 5: "If one AV crashes, the technology has failed."

Any serious incident matters and should be investigated thoroughly.

But the right comparison is not "zero crashes vs. one crash." It's AV crash rates vs. human crash rates, with careful attention to conditions and context.

Myth 6: "AVs will cause chaos because they don't understand human behavior."

Modern AVs are trained on huge amounts of human driving data and spend a lot of effort modeling things like:

• Typical speeds
• Merging behavior
• Pedestrian crossing patterns

There are still challenges, especially with unusual or aggressive behavior, but AVs are not naive to the way humans actually drive.

Myth 7: "AVs can drive anywhere once the software is 'done.'"

Today's systems are geo-fenced and limited by:

• Where they've been mapped and tested
• Weather conditions
• Road types and speeds

There's no single software update that instantly unlocks "Level 5 everywhere" driving.

Myth 8: "You'll never be able to trust a car without a driver."

People already trust automation in many domains:

• Elevators
• Commercial aircraft (autopilot)
• Trains and subways

Trust builds over time through experience, transparency, and strong safety records. The same will be true for AVs.

Myth 9: "AVs are only for rich people."

Early deployments often start in specific neighborhoods or with pilot programs, which can look exclusive.

But many potential benefits — like improved accessibility and reduced need for car ownership — matter most for people who currently have limited mobility options.

Policy and pricing will play huge roles here.

Myth 10: "This is all far-future science fiction."

AVs are already:

• Moving people in certain cities
• Delivering food and packages in some neighborhoods
• Operating shuttles on campuses and controlled environments

There's still a long way to go, but this is not just a research project. It's an evolving, deployed technology.