Ever fancied having a robotaxi drive you wherever you need to go while you snooze, read, play games or catch up on emails?

What seemed like a fanciful far-off notion might be edging closer to reality, as Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo says in a report from September that his ministry has engaged the Road Transport Department (JPJ) on forming safety regulations and a legal framework to govern autonomous vehicles (AV).

While opinions differ on whether the prospect of driverless cars zooming around Malaysian roads is a positive or negative development, ­questions remain on whether the country is ready, and more importantly, if the technology is truly safe.

Earlier this year, the Los Angeles Times reported an ­incident in Arizona where a Waymo vehicle drove in circles with a passenger on the way to an airport, while the New York Post reported another case in Texas where a Waymo stopped on a highway and locked its ­passengers inside.

While there are valid concerns to be had with autonomous ­vehicles in their current state, others believe that there are some real substantial benefits to be gained from their eventual widespread deployment, particularly in safety.

A report titled “Hands Off – The Safety Promise of Autonomous Driving” published last month, from motor insurance-­provider Allianz, predicts a drop of 20% in traffic accidents in Europe by 2035, rising to over 50% in 2060, with a growth in autonomous vehicle use.

Earlier this year, the Los Angeles Times reported an ­incident in Arizona where a Waymo vehicle drove in circles with a passenger on the way to an airport, while the New York Post reported another case in Texas where a Waymo stopped on a highway and locked its ­passengers inside. — AFP

The study further cites statistics from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which state that 90% to 95% of road accidents are due to human error. This could be in the form of fatigue, distractions, or misjudgement.

With that in mind, the Allianz report says that autonomous driving stands to play a pivotal role in safety, especially since these systems are designed ­specifically to avoid such mistakes.

The Allianz study also draws from a selection of 50 other ­international publications and accident datasets, finding that autono