Yeah, the regulatory side of it will be the thing that slows it down. Even if they prove that it's 100x safer than having human drivers, people will still be freaked out by having a machine in control like that. And then the issue of liability will get to be really complicated given where we'd be starting from. The entire insurance industry would have to be re-invented in a different form.

I want one now.

**** this bullshit. If you're not capable of operating a motor vehicle in a safe and efficient manner you can stay the **** off the roads.

Think of all the parking issues that would get solved.

I cound use this technology. I have a four + hour road trip planned for our family vacation this Thursdee. I'd rather poop and sleep than drive. Although, I'm wary of the potential malfunctions.

I owned a Toyota Avalon that had radar proximity cruise control, it was unbelievable. I could set the speed and it would slow down and speed up to keep the speed I set or the car length I picked behind traffic. Truly remarkable tech, and it felt impossible to wreck into the back of someone, it would stop the car like an impenetrable cushion of air in front of you.

This technology is light years beyond that, it's already a reality, just have to fight through lobbyist and bureaucratic bs.

Think of all the sex you could have on the way to your destination.....

Booty calls would be much more prevalent. Imagine leaving the bar and stumbling into the car and saying "jenny's house".

Another really cool thing is that it could replace day care. When you go to work, you just put your kid in the car, turn the air conditioning on, and have the baby take a nice long drive in the country, returning at 5:00.

Sold.

Jalopnik has had a few columns over driverless cars in the past (I've been busy so haven't been keeping up with the site).

Most of the writers speculate that driving what we think of as normal cars will become an enthusiast hobby similar to karts or track cars.

I wonder how they'd go about "phasing out" old fashioned cars that need drivers. For awhile at least you'd have both kinds, and eventually I'd guess it would become illegal to own a "drivered car".

I'd probably be one of the asshole holdouts...

No more DMV? Sign me up.

http://i61.tinypic.com/2s81gm8.gif

I'm not familiar with that address, would you please repeat the destination?

Once they get it perfected, you know what will happen next. They'll start selling different models of cars:

The Baseline BMW X5 - "Gets you where you want to go. Top speed of 30 mph, and you'll always be courteous to other drivers as you remain within the right-hand lane."

The Classic BMW X5 - "With a top speed of over 60 mph, you'll arrive at your destination quickly and safely. The Classic BMW X5 will move to the left lane to pass any and all Baseline vehicles."

The Executive BMW X5 - "This premium model can go up to 90 mph, and will consistently shift lanes to pass slower vehicles. It will also run yellow lights and ooze through stop signs."

The Rich Jerk BMW X5 - "The RJ Model has a top speed of 150 mph. It tailgates, cuts off other drivers, and has an automated middle finger attachment to show your disdain for others. The RJ features built-in communication software that will override Baseline and Classic Vehicles and force them to pull over to the side of the road as you streak by. If you drive an RJ, you'll own the road."