GT Writing Task 2 / Essay Sample # 332
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
In the future all cars, buses and trucks will be driverless. The only people travelling inside these vehicles will be passengers.
Do you think the advantages of driverless vehicles outweigh the disadvantages?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer:
Technological advancements in automobile industries are leading toward a future when vehicles would be driverless. The benefits of autonomous vehicles, run by artificial intelligence and software technology, would far outweigh the disadvantages.
The possible downside of autonomous vehicles pertains to the technology itself. Since they would be run by software technology, hackers could take control of a vehicle and use it for their own nefarious purposes. They could even evade police chase or use vehicles to cause vandalism. Moreover, the situation would lead to an increase in unemployment in many parts of the world where millions of people are employed as drivers.
But the advantages of autonomous vehicles are many. To begin with, it would allow people to use their travel time more constructively. Imagine the millions of hours saved each day because manual driving would no longer be required. It would be added up to the total man-hours of people to boost the national economy. Moreover, human drivers often compete on the roads and create traffic gridlocks. It would be a thing of the past with driverless, AI-driven cars. Finally, driverless cars would eliminate the drunk-driving, man-made blunders behind the wheels and make the roads safer. It would thus save thousands of lives each year that are lost due to road accidents. A recent research data by the automobile industry points out that road accidents with driverless cars would reduce by 85% – which is a hugely encouraging figure.
In conclusion, autonomous vehicles can reduce accidents and make the road safer while also allowing people more time to enjoy or work. Considering the benefits it offers, it is realistic to conclude that its advantages far outweigh its drawbacks.