One of the new robotic cars to be tested on public roads.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23330681

In this BBC article from July 2013 it is revealed that driverless cars will begin to be tested on public roads. The idea of self-driving cars has been in production for many years, with cars being designed with such features as cruise control and “self parking”. Theses features are steps towards the eventual, fully self-operational car. However it is important to note what the market for this kind of vehicle would actually exist. The question that arises is whether people would ever be fully comfortable with riding as a passenger in a driverless car, will people feel completely safe in a situation, which is out of their control? The tests on the cars are a step in the right direction. Performing safety tests on a variety of roads under various conditions will solidify the position of these cars as a viable safe option. However, the stigma of having an automated system in charge of a vehicle, instead of a human being, is not widely accepted. For Driverless cars to become an accepted form of transportation, users would have to be certain without a shadow of a doubt that the car will be safe.