Apparently the government is going to start licensing driverless cars possibly by 2021. I was wondering what people feel about this? I am in favour but then I don't drive and most drivers I speak to are against it and say "you don't understand about driving" which is true.

Anyway I think what will happen is in the future we will have driverless zones like the congestion charge zone. Your car must be on auto in that defined area.

The Pro's:

- There are around 2000 road deaths pa plus thousands of injuries caused by bad driving. Anything that will reduce that number must be a good thing. People will argue that the technology is not safe. Well can you guarantee that every driver on the road is sober and paying attention? Of course not. At least with this technology the government will require the manufacturers to prove it is safe and when it goes wrong to fix it. No one can guarantee that a person will never make a mistake or even repeat that same mistake.

- Traffic flow in the driverless zone should be smoother as all traffic would obey the laws. So no parking in bus lanes, cars sitting in the yellow box or blocking junctions etc. Boy racers would not be happy but if the overall journey time was quicker I hope must motorists would accept this.

- We could reduce the number of cars on the road. People would call an automated taxi instead of owning a car that spends must of the time parked outside their home or place of work (dead money). I hate Uber but their vision to reduce car ownership makes sense for people who live in urban areas and are occasional drivers. Especially useful as homes are now being built without off road parking.

- Freedom for older people and non drivers. My dad is in his mid eighties and lives in the country. He is getting too old to drive and public transport is non existent. Being able to whistle up an automated car service would be a godsend.

- Cars will be hired for a single trip or by the day. A cross between car rental and a taxi service. If you are commuting it would be a standing order, say pick up at 7am return journey 6pm. Between time the taxi would be doing other jobs.

Some cons:

- Drivers like their freedom and why should they change. You are all good drivers its the other guy's fault.

- It will never work people wont use it. Maybe but that has been said of lots of technology advances. I never thought I would see my dad use a mobile phone. Sooner or later a good idea goes from a novelty to the norm. I wonder what horse and cart drivers thought about cars and trains?

Anyway over to you

One more point

Surely you would have to design such a vehicle first? Is there a prototype that is being engineered?

I find it odd it takes 20 years to build a new railway line using existing technology yet they have already decided on driverless cars in just 3 years

Paua oouaarancì Irà chiyeah Ishé galé ma ba oo ah

No. THe NHS wastes enough money as it is.

Actually I live in the Netherlands and they already have driverless buses so I suppose you can design car transportation along the same lines

Paua oouaarancì Irà chiyeah Ishé galé ma ba oo ah

There will be less congestion and improved traffic flow in driverless lanes/zones.
1. How does the car fill itself with fuel ?
2. How would it differentiate between 2 passengers, or one really fat bloke ?
3. Vehicle collision or breakdown. What happens ? Obviously you need a dash-cam for evidence, but that doesn't solve the immediate problem(s)

I'm sure the boffins are on the case

I disengage, I turn the page.

The new Teslas have full driverless car tech built in to them ready to be switched on as soon as governments give the green light.

The tech is ready, just need the government to catch up and its good their not that far behind.

As for those that don't want it, blah blah... Simple, they don't have to use it.

Can remember when i was a kid and my mum said she didnt understand why people ue dishwashers....

Took 15 years for her to get one, and now she'd be devastated if she had to wash all the dishes herself.

Plenty of people wont want change, and thats fine. They can stick with what they....