Editing Flying car (section)

===Safety===
In order to operate safely, a flying car must be certified independently as both a road vehicle and an aircraft, by the respective authorities. The person controlling the vehicle must also be licensed as both driver and pilot, and the vehicle maintained according to both regimes.

Mechanically, the requirements of powered flight are so challenging that every opportunity must be taken to keep weight to a minimum. A typical airframe is therefore lightweight and easily damaged. On the other hand, a road vehicle must be able to withstand significant impact loads from casual incidents while stationary, as well as low-speed and high-speed impacts, and the high strength this demands can add considerable weight. A practical flying car must be both strong enough to pass road safety standards and light enough to fly. Any propeller or rotor blade also creates a hazard to passers-by when on the ground, especially if it is spinning; they must be permanently shrouded, or folded away on landing.

For widespread adoption, as envisaged in the near future, it will not be practicable for every driver to qualify as a pilot and the rigorous maintenance currently demanded for aircraft will be uneconomic. Flying cars will have to become largely [[autonomous vehicle|autonomous]] and highly reliable. The density of traffic will require automated routing and collision-avoidance systems. To manage the inevitable periodic failures and emergency landings, there will need to be sufficient designated landing sites across built-up areas. In addition, poor weather conditions could make the craft unsafe to fly.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://auto.howstuffworks.com/5-reasons-you-dont-want-flying-car.htm|title=Top 5 Reasons You Don't Want a Flying Car|website=howstuffworks.com|date=3 October 2011 |access-date=10 October 2013}}</ref>

Regulatory regimes are being developed in anticipation of a large increase in the numbers of autonomous flying cars and [[personal air vehicle]]s in the near future, and compliance with these regimes will be necessary for safe flight.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}{{Where|date=May 2023}}