2-13-2017, Forbes -- Humans on bicycles have a lot to gain from self-driving cars that move humans out of the driver’s seat. Why? Because drivers are judged to be at fault in the majority of cycling accidents that result in serious injury or death. Unfortunately, it’s harder for an autonomously driven vehicle to avoid a bicycle than a car.

The problem, part one.

A number of studies from different countries have found that drivers are solely responsible for between 60% and 80% of collisions between cars and adult cyclists. The numbers are similar for collisions that result in serious injury or death. It should be kept in mind that the data that supports these percentages is restricted to collisions that are reported to police or that result in visits to a hospital. Many collisions between cars and bikes go unreported. Also, it is unknown how many collisions result from drivers who are purposely aggressive and attempt to intimidate cyclists on the road.

Self-driving cars should eliminate accidents caused by purposeful intimidation and greatly reduce collisions caused by driver error. But before that can happen, the detection system in the vehicle must be able to recognize that a bicycle is present in the roadway. That can be a problem.

Read the rest of the story HERE.