Why Don’t We All Have Self-Driving Cars Yet?

Why don’t we all have self-driving cars yet? The short answer is that fully autonomous vehicles aren’t ready for everyday Chicago roads due to technical, safety, and regulatory challenges. From unpredictable Chicago winters to evolving Illinois driving laws, self-driving technology still has many hurdles to overcome. In the meantime, drivers need reliable coverage to stay protected—Call Insure on the Spot in Chicago at 773-202-5060 for affordable auto insurance and peace of mind.

What Is Holding Back Self-Driving Cars Today?

Early predictions promised we’d be riding in self-driving cars by now, but reality has proven more complicated. Teaching a car to drive itself in the real world—especially on busy, unpredictable city streets—turns out to be incredibly difficult. Self-driving systems rely on artificial intelligence, cameras, lasers (LiDAR), and other sensors to perceive the world. These technologies have improved, but they still struggle with many real-life conditions, particularly in a complex environment like Chicago.

Some major technical challenges include:

• Complex Decision-Making: Human drivers make split-second judgments using instincts and social cues that are hard to program into an AI. For example, anticipating a pedestrian’s next move or negotiating a four-way stop with other drivers requires nuance that computers are still learning.
  
• Weather and Road Conditions: Rain, snow, fog, or even potholes and faded lane markings can confuse a self-driving car’s sensors. Chicago’s harsh winters and road construction seasons pose a big challenge for current autonomous tech, which prefers clear signs and well-marked lanes.
  
• Unpredictable Scenarios: Rare events—often called “edge cases”—like a person chasing a dog onto the road or an unplanned construction detour, can stump an autonomous vehicle. Engineers must train cars to handle countless unusual scenarios, which takes enormous amounts of data and testing.
  
• High Development Costs: The technology needed for full autonomy (like high-end sensors and advanced computing power) is very expensive. This makes self-driving cars costly to develop and buy, slowing down how quickly they become common on the market. Building new infrastructure (such as smart traffic signals or detailed digital maps) also requires major investment.
  

Truly fully self-driving cars (able to handle all conditions with no human help) don’t exist for consumers yet. Experts classify autonomous driving capability in levels from 0 to 5:

Most cars on the road today are only at Level 1 or 2—think of features like lane-keeping assist or Tesla’s “Autopilot” mode, which still require an attentive driver. A few prototype vehicles have reached Level 4 in limited trials (some cities have self-driving taxis in geofenced areas), but Level 5 full autonomy remains a long-term vision. Until the technology can reliably handle all conditions, we won’t see everyone owning a completely driverless car.

Are Self-Driving Cars Safe and Legal in Illinois?

Safety is the number one concern whenever autonomous vehicles are discussed. While self-driving cars aim to eventually reduce accidents (since about 94% of crashes are due to human error), the technology isn’t flawless. There have been high-profile incidents where experimental self-driving cars were involved in accidents. For example, if a car’s sensors fail to recognize an obstacle in time, it can lead to a crash. Many people understandably feel uneasy about trusting a computer with life-or-death driving decisions. Questions have even been raised about ethical dilemmas (like how a self-driving car should react if an accident is unavoidable). Manufacturers are working on these issues, but the public’s trust will only come with a proven track record of safety.

Legally, fully autonomous cars are still in a gray area. Illinois has taken steps towards embracing the technology—state law allows companies to test self-driving vehicles on public roads as long as a safety driver is present to take over controls. In 2018, the Governor launched the “Autonomous Illinois” initiative to support testing, but it explicitly requires a human backup driver at all times. Chicago city officials have also voiced concerns: a few years ago, some Chicago aldermen even proposed banning driverless cars in the city until they were proven safe. (The state later passed a law preventing cities from banning autonomous vehicles, to keep rules consistent across Illinois.) All this shows that regulations are still catching up with the technology. As of today, you won’t see a truly driverless car cruising down Michigan Avenue—any vehicle with self-driving features on Illinois roads needs a capable human behind the wheel, ready to intervene.

Another challenge is figuring out liability and insurance when a self-driving car is involved in a crash. If the vehicle was in control, who is at fault—the “driver,” the car’s owner, or the company that made the automation system? Illinois and other states are still working out these questions. Until laws and insurance policies clearly define responsibility, many companies are cautious about rolling out fully autonomous vehicles to the public.

How Would Self-Driving Cars Affect Insurance Rates in Chicago?

The rise of self-driving cars could bring big changes to auto insurance. For Chicago drivers, any reduction in accidents could eventually mean lower insurance premiums—after all, fewer crashes and claims would make insurance less expensive over time. However, it’s not that simple. In practice, we are likely to see new types of risks and costs emerge even as some old risks decline. Here are a few ways autonomous vehicles might impact car insurance in Illinois:

• Fewer Accidents, Maybe Lower Rates: If autonomous technology significantly reduces collisions (by eliminating human errors like drunk or distracted driving), insurance companies could lower premiums in the long run. Safer roads in Chicago would be great news for everyone’s insurance costs. That said, it will take years of data to prove self-driving cars are consistently safer, so any rate decreases will likely be gradual.
  
• New Types of Coverage: Self-driving cars introduce new risk factors. For instance, owners might need coverage for software glitches, cybersecurity attacks, or system failures—issues that traditional car insurance doesn’t address. Insurance policies will evolve to cover things like a sensor malfunction or a hacked vehicle, which could be crucial in a tech-heavy car.
  
• Liability Shifts: Today, if you rear-end someone, your insurance pays for the damage. But what if your autonomous car rear-ends someone while driving itself? The fault could shift to the vehicle’s manufacturer or the software developer instead of the vehicle owner. Illinois insurers and lawmakers are preparing for a future where product liability (covering the car’s technology) becomes as important as driver liability. We might see auto makers carrying more insurance or consumers buying policies that cover software issues.
  
• Transition Period Challenges: For a long time, we’ll have a mix of human-driven and self-driving cars sharing Chicago’s roads. During this transition, insurance companies have to set rates without a complete picture of how autonomous and human drivers interact. There could be unpredictable situations (imagine a cautious self-driving car in traffic with aggressive human drivers). Insurers will likely err on the side of caution, so don’t expect premiums to plummet overnight.
  

Importantly, Illinois law still requires every driver to carry minimum liability insurance, even if your car has advanced autopilot features. Until fully self-driving vehicles are common and proven, Chicago drivers will continue to need robust auto insurance for protection. The bottom line: the advent of self-driving cars may eventually lower accidents and insurance costs, but for now and the near future, maintaining proper coverage is just as critical as ever.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What’s the minimum auto insurance required in Illinois?

A: Illinois drivers must carry at least 25/50/20 liability coverage. That means $25,000 for injury per person, $50,000 per accident for bodily injury total, and $20,000 for property damage. These are just minimums – it’s often wise to have higher coverage for better protection.

Q: Are self-driving cars legal in Illinois?

A: Testing of self-driving cars is legal in Illinois under strict conditions. Any autonomous vehicle on public roads must have a safety driver ready to take control. Fully driverless cars aren’t available to the general public yet, as regulations are still being developed.

Q: Will self-driving cars eventually lower insurance rates?

A: Possibly in the long run, if they greatly reduce accidents. Fewer crashes would mean fewer claims, which should drive premiums down. However, new risks (like software failures or hacking) might add costs, so any major rate reductions are likely years away.

Q: Who is at fault if a self-driving car crashes?

A: Determining fault with self-driving cars can be tricky. Responsibility might fall on the human in the vehicle, the car’s manufacturer, or even the software developer – it depends on what caused the accident. Illinois hasn’t set firm rules yet, so each case would be handled individually to figure out who (or what) was to blame.

Get a Quote Today!

Insure on the Spot is dedicated to helping Chicago drivers navigate today’s road risks while we all wait for tomorrow’s technology. Our local experts understand Illinois insurance requirements and know how to find you the best rates. Call 773-202-5060 or get a Free Quote Online Today to secure reliable coverage from a Chicago company you can trust.