The Ultimate Form of Laziness

   The U.S. ranks 18^th out of 191 countries in the world for obesity rates. One of the main causes of obesity, laziness, is prevalent throughout the country. While cars that are able to drive themselves are relatively new, I find them as another excuse for people around the world to be lazy. Yes, of course they are high tech. Yes, they are a huge leap for the automotive world. However, let’s face the facts, obesity is rising worldwide and the fact that people are getting bored while driving says a lot.

   Christopher Burdick from Automoblog.net expressed his feelings for autonomous vehicles, “Take a few more crappy drivers off the road, no problem there. But what happens when one of them gets into a ‘regular’ car some day…? The perfect autonomous car world can never exist.” Burdick pointed out something that I have never thought about. The ironic ability of the human species to become accustomed to technology that makes life easier. Items such as the television remote, built in navigation, and cellphones are perfect examples. If in the future we were to have autonomous vehicles, we would become so accustomed to them that we would most likely stop teaching people how to drive.  

   Some may argue that autonomous vehicles are the future; they can alleviate traffic, diminish road rage, and reduce the amount of accidents. Nevertheless, if the majority of drivers in the U.S. were to use self-driving vehicles, what would that say about our society? It would mean that we are the most advanced society, as well as the laziest. We already have rearview cameras, blind spot indicators, and laser guided cruise control. All of these were implemented in vehicles because people didn’t want to park while looking back, they didn’t want to turn their necks while lane changing, and their right foot got tired on a drive through a highway.

   Autonomous vehicles, they’re a great idea, but need to be implemented into the automotive world in the correct fashion. They would emphasize the dominance of electronics in our lives, as well as take the fun out of driving. In the end, I would love to be given a ride in a Ferrari 458, however I would like to drive one, even more.