Following the news that a self-driving shuttle in Las Vegas got into a wreck with a human-driven vehicle on the shuttle’s very first day of service, there are undoubtedly going to be those nay-sayers that let out with “I told you so,” but the truth is that someday self-driving vehicles are going to be the rule rather than the exception. In Arizona, following months of testing with humans sitting behind the wheel, a whole fleet of self-driving vehicles are roaming the streets in the Phoenix suburbs. More testing goes on across the nation as automakers try to perfect the hardware and software that will let vehicles safely take over the roads while passengers check their phones, take a nap or watch a movie on their tablets. While you’re waiting for the self-driving cars to take over, now’s a great time to take advantage of year-end deals at any of the Chapman Las Vegas dealerships.

Still Waiting on Flying Cars

Even the baby boomers of the post-World War II era are still waiting on the flying cars promised by Popular Mechanics in the magazine’s 1950s and 1960s issues. While that still seems like decades away, the truth is that a lot of progress has been made on the autonomous vehicle front. Modern driver assistance devices rely on cameras and sensors to warn a driver of an impending collision and then take action to either avoid the wreck or lessen its severity. These systems are now standard on many higher-priced trim level and will soon be standard across the board from most automakers. They are the first steps in a system that will allow a driver to input a destination and then sit back and enjoy the ride as vehicles communicate with each other to theoretically reduce traffic jams and provide a more pleasant commute.

What are the Hurdles?

Aside from the technological hurdles of making a self-driving car actually work, and those are significant, there are also many other challenges before you see autonomous vehicles taking over the road. One of which is regulatory as the rules governing self-driving vehicles have not yet been determined in all states. Whether they are regulated by the state or federal government is a sticking point that has yet to be decided. Another major hurdle is cost. All this technology is already adding thousands of dollars to the price of a new vehicle, and a fully equipped self-driving car is not going to be cheap. How many people will turn up their nose or simply not be able to afford a new vehicle is something yet to be determined. There’s always the issue that many people just like to drive. Crusing through a mountain road with the wind in your hair and the rumble of a throaty exhaust is one of life’s great pleasures and many people may not be willing to give that up.

Drive on Drivers

The truth is that while significant inroads are being made to make a self-driving car possible, the cost, regulatory and fun factors are major hurdles that stand in the way of a fully-autonomous driving society. For now, enjoy your drive and check out your dream vehicle when you take a test drive at any of the Chapman Las Vegas dealerships.