[adorno]

Fully autonomous vehicle technology already exists. It's only a matter of testing and making sure that all or most driving scenarios are covered. Ford and Google have indicated that their technology is "just about ready", and Tesla is gearing up to release their fully autonomous vehicles in 2018. That technology may be ready for most driving situations around 2020-2021, and it could only improve after that.

And, again, with self-driving technology creating a much safer situation all around, insurance costs will drop dramatically. After that technology becomes the rule and not the exception, the time will come when people-driven vehicles could be eliminated via laws and regulations. Eventually, all vehicles will be self-driven, and driver licenses and drivers and auto-insurance companies, will be things of the past. Only manufacturers will have self-coverage on whatever they make, and then, paying for accidents will be something seldom seen.

[socialism_stinX]

I would bet quite a lot that it will never happen that fast. The technology will fail repeatedly in live testing in the suburbs and in the country. There will be numerous collisions and one-vehicle accidents in testing and the whole thing will be pulled back for more engineering work. That’s just my view on this as a former software developer. It will be interesting to see what actually happens in the testing phase.

[socialism_stinX]

You’ll never get people to give up driving their cars, trucks, and SUVs. People in the suburbs and the country will rebel against any legislators who vote for that kind of restrictive law. Any laws of that kind will be swiftly repealed in the next legislative session after those who enacted it are voted out of office.
;-)

[Alberta's Child]

Fully autonomous vehicle technology already exists. It's only a matter of testing and making sure that all or most driving scenarios are covered. Ford and Google have indicated that their technology is "just about ready", and Tesla is gearing up to release their fully autonomous vehicles in 2018. That technology may be ready for most driving situations around 2020-2021, and it could only improve after that.

Fully autonomous vehicle technology has existed for almost 60 years ... and has been "just about ready" for decades.

Self-Driving Cars Were Just Around the Corner -- in 1960

There are several reasons why self-driving cars may always be "just around the corner." The technology is the easy part. Legal issues and the simple economics of self-driving cars are the two biggest constraints.