The future of driving is autonomous. While we’re not there 100% just yet, autonomous driving is most definitely on the radar for BMW engineers. These new innovative technologies present new enormous challenges but to the BMW group, the safety of customers always remain a top priority. While BMW offers a variety of driver assistance systems already, the world of autonomous driving is quickly taking over and this week we want to share some information about autonomous driving and what it could mean for future BMW drivers.

One of the most frequently asked questions about autonomous driving is how the vehicle sees and detects potential road hazards. The answer to that is sensors and a lot of them. Highly and fully-automated driving is impossible without sensors. A vehicle will use sensors to monitor all relevant aspects of the surrounding environment on each road you travel. Different types of sensors are needed to monitor conditions both day and night, as well as, any weather conditions that might be thrown your way. That means your vehicle has eyes on the front, back, and all surrounding sides!

Many drivers wonder about collisions when you eliminate a driver altogether. While an overwhelming majority of accidents are caused due to human error, more than 30% of motor vehicle accidents have been prevented with the vehicle assistance system features that have already been built into current models. So, we’re hoping that the safety of driving will only increase when more driving assistance features are introduced to new models.

What will the impact look like? Researchers believe that the impact of driverless technology will be monumental. About $7 trillion will be added to the global economy and can save hundreds of thousands of lives in the next few decades. While this technology is going to benefit many, some will be left behind in the dust.

Now, before we get all excited, the automotive industry categorizes vehicle development into five levels. While five-levels doesn’t seem like a lot, there are still a few years of tests, innovations, and designs to go before series-production vehicles are capable of autonomous driving. So, sit tight and don’t rush good things!