What concerns have critics raised about congestion and pollution from fully automated vehicles?

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Jacquard loom engraving, 1874 — automation At the top of the machine is a stack of punched cards that would be fed into the loom to control the weaving pattern. This method of automatically issuing machine instructions was employed by computers well into the 20th century.

Critics of fully autonomous vehicle technology raise significant concerns regarding the potential for increased traffic congestion and environmental pollution.

These concerns are primarily driven by the following factors:

Increased Vehicle Miles Traveled: Critics predict that the convenience of automated driving could lead to a rise in the total number of miles traveled by vehicles, which would exacerbate traffic congestion.1
Urban Sprawl: By reducing the burden of driving, full automation may encourage urban sprawl, as commuters might feel more comfortable living at greater distances from their workplaces, thereby increasing overall travel demand and associated emissions.1

While proponents argue that automation could improve road safety and optimize land use, these critics emphasize that without careful management, the technology could negatively impact urban infrastructure and environmental sustainability.1