The state of California recently passed a law that outlines the shape of the state’s future highway plan, paving the way for the integration of so-called “driverless cars” into California’s highway system, which has one-third more high-speed roadway than any other state in the nation. Many of these driverless cars would in fact feature drivers prominently, as they would simply incorporate automated safety features that automate some important safety maneuvering, such as slowing rapidly for stopped traffic ahead. Others would be truly autonomous vehicles, such as commuter trains with no conductors. They do their thing, and everybody is along for the ride.
The future is real. Already, car companies including Mercedes, Lexus, Volvo and Honda are getting in on the game with rear-end collision-avoidance technology, lane-keeping assistance, assistive cruise control, blind-spot detection and more. Automatic driving technology is only going to get more common.
