• The New York Times, Tuesday, January 12, 2016 9:05 AM

As autonomous driving technology advances, perhaps the most notable benefit is the promise of a striking reduction in accidents. But fewer accidents will, according to a recent report, turn the entire auto insurance industry on its head. “We think that over the next 20 to 25 years, the number of accidents will fall by 80 percent,” said Jerry Albright, principal of actuarial and insurance risk practice at KPMG, the consulting firm that released the report. “From a consumer perspective, this is a very good thing. You’ll see improved safety, fewer deaths.” At Progressive’s investor relations meeting in 2013, John Curtiss, the company’s auto products development chief, said the industry had grown 90 percent over the previous 30 years, mostly because more vehicles were on the road. More recently, Mr. Albright said that most insurance companies had problems turning a profit over the last six years and that the changes autonomous vehicles would bring were sure to make profitability more elusive.

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