26 October, 2013

Here’s what it would take for self-driving cars to catch on

Here’s what it would take for self-driving cars to catch on: A future of completely self-driving vehicles doesn't seem too far off.

And yet, as a new report (pdf) from the Eno Center for Transportation details, there are all sorts of obstacles that still need to be overcome before self-driving cars ever take over our highways.

The costs remain high and the technology has encountered some unexpected sticking points. What's more, state and federal regulations, as well as fights over liability and data privacy, could impede widespread adoption of self-driving cars.

"Self-driving cars have the potential to monumentally transform transport as we know it," explained report co-author Daniel Fagnant — and bring billions of dollars worth of benefits. But getting to that point won't be easy.