Jose F. Monserrat, a member of the Institute of Telecommunications and Multimedia Applications (iTEAM) and Vice-Rector of Internationalization and Communication at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), has shared his vision on the operation of connected cars and their future in autonomous driving.
According to Monserrat, over the past two years, the accident rates of autonomous cars have been analyzed in comparison to the same models without autonomous driving, with lower accident rates reported for autonomous vehicles. Statistics show that since 90% of accidents are associated with human error, a system complementing human drivers can reduce accident rates by up to 10%. Although not fully autonomous, driver assistance systems significantly improve vehicle reactions in most situations.
This is the first study demonstrating that the combination of human and technological safety elements has enhanced vehicle safety. Monserrat highlights that, although autonomous cars are generally safer than those driven by humans, certain conditions, such as sunrise and sunset, reduce visibility, and vehicle cameras struggle to match the capabilities of the human eye, slightly increasing the risk of accidents in these scenarios.
It remains a challenge that, in adverse weather conditions like rain or fog, Level 4 autonomous vehicles, designed to detect when they cannot drive safely, will come to a complete stop as a safety measure. This contrasts with Level 5 vehicles, which are not yet commercially available and would represent full automation, allowing operation in all adverse conditions without human intervention.
Currently, Level 4 autonomous vehicles are authorized on certain roads in Germany, but not in Spain due to the lack of authorization on highways. In these vehicles, the driver can hand over control to the vehicle on controlled and safe sections, whereas Level 3 vehicles require the driver to remain behind the wheel at all times. Monserrat indicates that vehicles with autonomous driving assistance are 10% safer overall, although in specific situations, such as intersections or low-visibility conditions, their effectiveness may drop by up to 5%.
To achieve full automation (Level 5), it is essential to integrate mobile communication into these vehicles, an area in which UPV is actively working. Communication between vehicles and road infrastructure, such as traffic lights and signals, can resolve many current issues with visibility and information, allowing for appropriate reactions in critical situations.
Monserrat concludes that Europe must take the lead in cellular connectivity for vehicles by funding the necessary infrastructure. Only then can significant progress be made toward fully autonomous driving, ensuring greater safety and efficiency on the roads.