Skip to content

Brought to you by

Dentons

Driverless Commute

A digest clocking the most important technical, legal and regulatory developments shaping the path to full autonomy

open menu close menu

Driverless Commute

  • Home
  • About Us
  • News on AVs
  • Global AV Index
  • Global Guide to AVs 2022
    • Executive summary
    • Global AV survey | Key findings
    • Australia
    • Canada
    • China
    • Germany
    • Hungary
    • Italy
    • Poland
    • South Korea
    • Turkey
    • United Kingdom
    • United States

How autonomous vehicles could help the elderly and disabled in the near future

By Eric Tanenblatt
April 21, 2021
  • General
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via email Share on LinkedIn

Article originally published in TechRepublic

Experts are already sketching out potential use cases for the elderly and disabled using autonomous vehicles. Some barriers include skepticism and cost.

Autonomous vehicles are well on their way to becoming a reality of life as we know it, with multiple rideshare companies and car makers already deep into testing the technology for a variety of purposes. Some experts are already thinking of ways the technology could be used to help the most vulnerable in society: the elderly and disabled. 

“Autonomous vehicles are going to be very beneficial to the elderly and other groups that have challenges related to driving. If they’re going to the doctor’s office, a social event or even places of employment, it can help lessen the burden of transportation,” said Eric Tanenblatt, a public policy leader at the law firm Dentons who started the firm’s global autonomous vehicles team.

“For many elderly, at some point it’s not safe for them to drive and so the more transportation opportunities that are out there for them the better. The more active people stay as they age, the longer they live, so I think autonomous vehicles can be very helpful.”

Tanenblatt noted that autonomous vehicles are still being tested and the regulatory environment is not complete yet, but that a number of governors and state governments have taken steps toward creating frameworks for how autonomous vehicles would function. 

He was honest about the skepticism the technology may face from older users who will be wary of entering a vehicle without a driver. But he compared it to cellphones and other technology that slowly gained traction among older audiences as more young people used them. 

“We have to overcome the fear that these cars are not safe,” Tanenblatt said, adding that human error is the cause of most car accidents. 

“If you take the human out of it and the car or technology is driving itself they may actually be safer than what we have now with passenger automobiles.”

To continue reading, visit TechRepublic here.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via email Share on LinkedIn
Subscribe and stay updated
Receive our latest blog posts by email.
Stay in Touch
Eric Tanenblatt

About Eric Tanenblatt

Eric Tanenblatt is the Global Chair of Public Policy and Regulation of Dentons, the world's largest law firm. He also leads the firm's US Public Policy Practice, leveraging his three decades of experience at the very highest levels of the federal and state governments.

All posts Full bio

RELATED POSTS

  • Autonomous Vehicles
  • Driverless Commute
  • General

Global Guide to Autonomous Vehicles 2021

By Eric Tanenblatt, Michael Malterer, Henry (Litong) Chen, Michael Ledgett, Kurt Gerstner, Ben Allen, Marcell Szőnyi, Şahin Ardıyok, and Karol Laskowski
  • Autonomous Vehicles
  • Driverless Commute
  • General

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration releases considerations for vehicles with automated driving systems

By Eric Tanenblatt and Peter Stockburger
  • General

Department of Transportation Releases Comprehensive Autonomous Vehicle Plan

By Eric Tanenblatt

About Dentons

Dentons is designed to be different. As the world’s largest law firm with 20,000 professionals in over 200 locations in more than 80 countries, we can help you grow, protect, operate and finance your business. Our polycentric and purpose-driven approach, together with our commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and ESG, ensures we challenge the status quo to stay focused on what matters most to you. www.dentons.com

Dentons boilerplate image

Twitter

Categories

  • Announcements
  • Autonomous Vehicles
  • Driverless Commute
  • General
  • Global Autonomous Vehicles Survey
  • UAVs
Dentons logo

© 2023 Dentons

  • Legal notices
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of use
  • Cookies on this site