Justia 10.0
Expertise.com Best Car Accident Lawyers in Chula Vista 2022
The State Bar of California
SDCBA
California Lawyers Association
Consumer Attorneys of San Diego
Google 5 stars
Expertise.com Best Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Chula Vista 2022

How the Story of the World’s First Traffic Light Can Inform Our Thinking About Driverless Technology and Crash Risks

Self Driving

SAN DIEGO, California. The Smithsonian Magazine recently ran a story about the world’s first traffic light. The story offers insight into the way traffic innovations that ultimately go on to prevent car crashes can initially cause more accidents. As the old saying goes, “those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Could the story of London’s first traffic light offer us insight into how driverless cars should be received on the roadways?

In London, in the 19th century, traffic had become a dangerous issue. Reports of traffic accidents in 19th century London reveal a catastrophic mesh of horse-drawn carriages, vehicles, coaches, donkey carts, and pedestrians. Pile ups involved not only vehicles, but horse-drawn carriages. In early London, there were few traffic rules on the books, and every street could have its own traffic laws and norms, leading to frequent accidents. In an attempt to improve traffic safety, London installed its first traffic light. However, the new traffic light had one fatal flaw—which had nothing to do with its effectiveness in preventing traffic accidents. Drivers following the law, but the traffic light had a gas leak, resulting in an explosion that burned the police officer operator of the light.

It would be another 50 years before traffic signals were re-introduced in London.

Could we see a similar resistance and fear of self-driving cars? Experts say that self-driving vehicles have the potential to prevent crashes and make roads safer and more efficient. Yet, anything new on the road is always subject to increased scrutiny. Take the widespread reporting on the first self-driving vehicle death in Arizona. If we look at the number of vehicles with driving assistance and the number of self-driving vehicles being tested on public roads, the numbers of fatalities and injuries appear to be quite low. When accidents do occur, they are more likely to receive press because the technology is so new and because people are understandably worried about the safety of self-driving vehicles.

The reality is that we are unlikely to receive meaningful statistics on self-driving vehicle safety until more of these vehicles are tested on the road and until they become available commercially. Until then, we may have to trust initial research that indicates that these vehicles can indeed be safer than vehicles subject to human error.

The Law Offices of Bruce S. Meth are car accident attorneys in San Diego, California who work closely with victims and families who have been impacted by car crashes. If you’ve been hurt in a crash due to another person’s negligence or neglect, you may be entitled to receive damages to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Visit us at the Law Offices of Bruce S. Meth today to learn more about your rights and options following a car accident.

Law Offices of Bruce S. Meth

Chula Vista Office (Main Office)
815 3rd Ave #203
Chula Vista, CA 91911

Client Reviews

Highly recommend anyone that is looking to find an excellent injury attorney- go to the man Bruce Meth. Him and his colleague Jared Leuck work very hard and I’m very, very happy with the outcome of my case. My mother has been a client as well and we definitely recommend them. Some of the finest...

Jackie S.

Caring, honest accident lawyers are hard to find. After my incident involving an underinsured driver, Bruce Meth worked diligently on my case and achieved a very satisfactory result. Attorney Meth listened to my concerns, clearly explained my options, and kept me informed about progress on my case...

Christine B.

Bruce and his staff are excellent in the way they handled my case. They were quick, efficient, and outstanding. Bruce communicated throughout the case and we got satisfaction for our car crash settlement. Bruce was there for us when we needed a skilled attorney to help us navigate through all the...

Dean F.

The service provided by all the staff at the office off attorney Bruce Meth was exceptional. They made me feel at peace when I was in one of the most stressful moment of my life, I received periodical phone calls and e-mails to check on me and to see how the treatment was working out for me. Mr...

Marya L.

Jared Leuck handled my auto accident case in a professional and expedient fashion. When we first met, I was unsure whether I should proceed on my own or use his services. He objectively and accurately explained to pros and cons of each option. Shortly thereafter I enlisted his services. I am so...

Donald H.

Contact Us

  1. 1 Free Consultation
  2. 2 Available 24/7
  3. 3 No Fee Until We Win
Fill out the contact form or call us at (619) 691-8942 to schedule your free consultation.

Personal Injury Contact Form