I could see accidents being more likely for autonomous cars on highways though
Why? Driving on highways is the easiest kind of driving?
For humans, but not necessarily for camera-based autonomous cars? They also can't just stop on a highway to prevent accidents.
Well, I do use a car that is able to drive (almost) autonomous on a highway, so I know that the tech to drive on highways exist since several years.
All the difficult stuff – slow traffic, parking cars, crossings, pedestrians... – does not exist on highways.
The only problem that still remains is the problem you mention: what to do in case of trouble?
Of course you have to stop on a highway to prevent an accident or in case of an emergency. That's exactly what humans do. But then humans get out of the car, set up warning signs, get help &c. Cars cannot do this. The result is reported in this article.
I could see accidents being more likely for autonomous cars on highways though
Why? Driving on highways is the easiest kind of driving?
For humans, but not necessarily for camera-based autonomous cars? They also can't just stop on a highway to prevent accidents.
Well, I do use a car that is able to drive (almost) autonomous on a highway, so I know that the tech to drive on highways exist since several years.
All the difficult stuff – slow traffic, parking cars, crossings, pedestrians... – does not exist on highways.
The only problem that still remains is the problem you mention: what to do in case of trouble?
Of course you have to stop on a highway to prevent an accident or in case of an emergency. That's exactly what humans do. But then humans get out of the car, set up warning signs, get help &c. Cars cannot do this. The result is reported in this article.