There’s nothing more thrilling to me than the scream of an engine revving high as you sit behind the wheel, rowing through the gears, being in sync with the car’s emotions. Then, shifting down, hearing the exhaust methodically regurgitate a little crackle and pop and the shrill of the beast underneath the hood. It’s a wonder how a machine can give you this kind of euphoric state.

And they say that a car is only to get you from point A to point B.

It’s evident that self-driving cars are becoming a reality; something that is, unfortunately, in our near future. Imagine getting in a car, entering a destination into the computer, then sitting down and suddenly the car is moving — without any help from the driver! Kind of scary to think about, isn’t it? Many cars today even possess semi-autonomous driving modes, a somewhat “cruise-control on steroids” deal.

I know that technical jargon can be difficult to understand, so let me put it simply: How would you like it if your car could stop and make various maneuvers on its own? Uber has recently been testing this self-driving technology on their cars. But how trustworthy is this robot of a car? Granted, the idea of a self-driving car seems cool and all, but at what point does the autonomy become overbearing, or worse, dangerous?

In March of this year, Uber’s autonomous Volvo XC-90 SUV did not stop itself when approaching 49-year-old Elain Herzberg in Tempe, Arizona, hitting and instantly killing her.

According to Forbes, the National Transportation Safety Board stated that “because of the disabled emergency braking features the car did not apply the brakes and the human backup driver in the car was not warned, hence, did not intervene in time.” It was found that the car was traveling at 43 mph and needed to brake 1.3 seconds before impact.

Wouldn’t it seem that computer-controlled cars would make fewer mistakes than a human driver, considering computers are much quicker to react than the human brain? Technically, computer systems are more precise and seamless in operation. And, yes, some people are transparently bad drivers, and much less safe than any computer-operated system out there. While we cannot control the actions of other drivers, we also cannot control random actions taken by the computer of a self-driving car.

Furthermore, the possibility of a system failure or somehow a hacked system is something that can lead to numerous disasters. Why should we put ourselves in a vulnerable position with a hackable device?

Besides, accident-prevention systems are already popular in cars, involving a suite of technology designed to warn the driver of imminent danger on the road. With partial assistance to the driver, not full control over the driver, accidents can easily be prevented.

Ultimately, humans should have control over computers because, as humans, our first reaction in a precarious situation is to survive. Think of fight or flight. Computers, cameras and lasers do not have human instincts to protect us. Still, some may say, “Well isn’t it easier to have the car drive for you?”

Okay, I get it. There is a certain comfort in knowing that a machine is devoid of human error. While this is a strong argument, cars were never meant to work that way. Cars are meant to be driven and enjoyed. If you don’t want to drive at all, then you should consider alternative options such as public transportation or having someone else drive you.

As humans, we have a natural instinct to be in control of our surroundings. So, is it a good idea to be completely out of control, and to leave your life in the hands of a robot? Driving is something that I do either to forget a bad day, celebrate something or just to kick it and relax. Just get in the car and go. Blast music and sing along while slapping the steering wheel to the beat of your favorite song. Windows down, messy hair and all.

From the second you first start your car in the morning, whether it be an electric car with no sound or an old 60’s Mustang that coughs, burbles and smells like the 76 station, that car is alive. It’s with you every step of the way. You don’t just drive the car; you interact with the car, and I find that just beautiful. Take it from me: Drive your cars like you love them, and don’t let some computer take the incredible experience of driving away from you.