This tasks all the fun out of the drive.
 

Driverless Audi........

http://www.dezeen.com/2014/12/15/audi-aj-bobby-super-fast-driverless-car-kram-weisshaar-camera-film-studio/

So when BMW brings their driverless car to market will they call it "The Ulitmate Passenger Machine"?

They're already bringing these cars to race tracks, what happens if they start lapping as fast of faster than a piloted car - will racing drivers be relevant? With time, will people lose interest in F1..?

The talent is of the driver not the computer.

After spending over 2.5 hours in bumper to bumper traffic last week going from Santa Monica to San Marino (26 miles), having some automated capabilities would have been welcome. The wife's i3 has adaptive cruise control which is perfect for that kind of nonsense. Unfortunately we were in my car...

Depends on the application/context.

I for sure see the market for driverless cars. Commuting in heavy traffic, long road trips and senior citizens. Instead of taking away grandpa's keys you get him a driverless car.

It will be great for drunks as well. Go out and party hard. Climb in the back seat and tell the car to take you home.

100% agreed. My parents are toeing the edge of driving restriction. They won't take the train (no pets) so the only option visiting us is for me to drive up to get them from Santa Barbara and return them a couple days later. Flying $$$ is out of the question.

A driverless car that can be tasked electronically and arrive within ~ 10 minutes would be incredibly useful. That said I'm an old guy who wants the option to row the gears manually and have what's left of my hair blow with the window down as I take that 35 mph turn at 65 ;)

There are driverless vehicles, known by the name 'bus' 'train' or 'taxi'.

BMW tried out an automatic braking system which locks up if on-coming traffic is approaching too fast/close.
Sure. That will work great in NY or Boston...

You want to go, but the car won't let you.
Then you are stuck.

All of those have a driver.

If one lives in a large metro area mass transit is fine. I know of people that lived a long life and never owned a car. In NYC that is easy. No so much if you live in a less crowded area. A local reporter tried taking the bus for his commute. It took him over an hour and he had to walk 1/4 a mile on the side of a road with no sidewalk. He could drive it in 12 minutes.

I will prefer to drive myself for many years to come. Maybe by the time driverless cars are main-stream I will be ready for one.