Introduction

• Author: Nathan Baker
• Pages: 1-6

1

INTRODUCTION

The automobile has been arguably the most impactful achievement of

the twentieth century. It has allowed freedom of movement for people

and goods, generated urban development, and created industries. Canada,

with a small population spread over a huge geography, is highly dependent

on the automobile. Consequently, technology has a profound impact on

the use of automobiles across the country. Drivers in Canada may encoun-

ter dangerous winter weather, long stretches of f‌lat prairie, and twisted

mountain roads. Driving in Canada, or anywhere, is “an inherently dan-

gerous activity, but one that is of both legal and . . . social value.”1

The vast majority of Canadians live in urban areas; nonetheless, to

allow an automated vehicle to function well, a staggering number of

kilometres of road would need mapping. This would be a dicult and

expensive process. Converting non-autonomous vehicles into automated

vehicles over time and the public appetite for the technology will inf‌lu-

ence their impact. Some of the benef‌its of automated vehicles become

exponentially greater at higher levels of automation and with higher rates

of acceptance by drivers—overall safety is more enhanced when highly

automated vehicles are used by greater numbers of people. It may be that

1 RvRoy, 2012 SCC 26 at para 34, referencing R v Beatty, 2008 SCC 5 at paras 31 and 34.