One quiet evening, a man in Arizona was crossing the street when a self-driving test vehicle hit him. The car, operated by a ride hailing company in autonomous mode, failed to stop. No human intervention. A life lost in 2018.

Today, driverless cars are back in the headlines. Some call them the future. Others still see them as unpredictable machines rolling down the highway. So where do we really stand? Can we trust driverless cars in 2025 and beyond?

Let's dig into what's working, what's failing, and what it actually means for us—the everyday people who still sit behind the wheel.

What Does "Driverless" Actually Mean?

Not all "autonomous vehicles" are created equal. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) defines six levels of autonomy:

1. Level 0 – No Automation: The driver is fully in control at all times.

2. Level 1 – Driver Assistance: Basic support like adaptive cruise control.

3. Level 2 – Partial Automation: The car can steer and brake, but the driver must monitor constantly.

4. Level 3 – Conditional Automation: The car can drive itself under certain conditions, but a human must be ready to take over.

5. Level 4 – High Automation: Fully self-driving in specific areas (like shuttle routes).

6. Level 5 – Full Automation: No steering wheel needed. No human input at all.

Most cars on the market today are still at Level 2 or Level 3. That means we're not quite in the Jetsons era—yet.

Why Do People Still Feel Nervous?

Despite years of development and billions in investment, the public still has serious doubts about safety—and with good reason.

1. Real-world unpredictability: No algorithm can predict everything. A child chasing a ball, sudden construction, or a hand signal from a traffic officer—AI still struggles with nuance.

2. Software bugs and system failures: Like any tech, autonomous systems crash, glitch, or misread road signs. And unlike your phone, these glitches involve lives.

3. Accountability is unclear: If a driverless car causes an accident, who's responsible? The carmaker? The software developer? The passenger? Legal systems are still catching up.

A 2023 Pew Research Center study found that 63% of U.S. adults are uncomfortable with the idea of riding in a fully autonomous vehicle, even if it passed all regulatory tests.

What Are the Advantages of Self-Driving Cars?

Despite fears, autonomous vehicles have enormous potential—especially when used in the right settings.

1. Fewer human errors: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 90% of road accidents are caused by human error. Self-driving systems don't text or fall asleep at the wheel.

2. Greater mobility: Elderly people or those with disabilities could gain independence without relying on others for transportation.

3. Reduced traffic and emissions: AI can optimize traffic flows and routes far more efficiently than humans. That means fewer jams and smarter fuel use.

The real potential lies in carefully controlled environments—like fixed-route shuttles or delivery robots in closed zones—not chaotic urban freeways.

When Driverless Cars Go Wrong

Let's be specific. Here are 3 real-world incidents that raise critical questions:

1. Arizona Crash (2018) – The car's sensors detected the pedestrian but failed to classify them correctly. A backup driver was present but distracted.

2. Autopilot Accidents – Multiple crashes have occurred when drivers over-relied on Autopilot, thinking it was fully autonomous. It's not.

3. Cruise Robotaxi Problems (San Francisco, 2023) – A series of incidents, including cars blocking emergency services, led the city to suspend driverless robotaxi permits temporarily.

These events show that while the tech can perform well under ideal conditions, it still fails under pressure—and that can be fatal.

Road Ahead

We're not at the point where cars can safely handle the complexity of human driving environments—especially in mixed traffic. Autonomous vehicles excel at rules, not exceptions. And roads are full of exceptions.

Still, automakers are pushing forward. Companies continue to refine their systems using real-world data, promising better performance every year. But even they acknowledge that full self-driving for the masses is not imminent.

How Can We Stay Safe as the Tech Evolves?

Here's how everyday drivers can stay in control as the shift toward autonomy grows:

1. Know what your car can actually do – Don't assume your vehicle is smarter than it is. Read the manual. Learn its limitations.

2. Stay alert, always – Even in semi-autonomous mode, you are the fallback. Hands on, eyes open.

3. Speak up about safety – If you're testing or riding in a driverless service, report unusual behavior. Public feedback matters.

4. Support regulation – Tech alone isn't enough. We need strict safety laws, transparency in testing data, and clear accident accountability frameworks.

Maybe one day, we'll nap while our car drives us across the country. But today? That trust isn't fully earned yet. Driverless tech is improving, no doubt. But confidence must be built not through promises or PR—but through consistent safety in the real world.

Lykkers, if a driverless car pulled up to pick you up tomorrow—no steering wheel, no driver—would you get in? Or would you wait until the technology proves itself a little more?

Your answer says a lot about where the future is heading. Let's keep the conversation going.