If I see one more use of “90% of accidents are caused by human error”, to promote the use of automated driving...

Let me explain why this irks me... (with the help of the Schitt's Creek cast)
#SelfDrivingCars #HumanFactors

The statistic comes from an NHTSA report by Treat et al. (1977), who actually said: “Human errors were involved at the probable level in more than 90% of the accidents, but were the sole cause of accidents in only 57% of the cases”.
Full report: https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/25794/dot_25794_DS1.pdf

SO in fact human error is the sole cause of 57% of accidents and not 90% - that’s a big difference.

Let’s dig a bit more.

Treat et al. explain that the most common human errors are recognition (improper lookout, speeding, inattention) and decision errors.

There is no clear evidence that automation will be superior to humans in all of these, in all situations.

They also say, “A common characteristic of most accidents is that they result from multiple "causes" rather than a single one.”

Of course, you don’t drive in a vacuum, but as part of a complex system! So, if you introduce automation into the system, you introduce more “causes”.

Automation is not a silver bullet because:
1) Automation will have limitations
2) safe human-automation collaboration is challenging
3) active safety systems exist specifically to address human error, eg intelligent speed adaptation, blind spot assist, pedestrian detection.

To sum up, human error plays a part in accidents, but it's not straightforward. Improving road safety requires a systems approach. Technology can help, but it'll be because of active safety, not automation. Automation is a convenience system & all other benefits are yet untested.

and I'll leave this here, pensive words from the wonderful Thomas Sheridan and Raja Parasuraman