Auto News 5

Some industry experts believe that autonomous cars could be sold to the public as early as three to five years from now. When that day comes, drivers will be able to take their hands off the steering wheel to eat, send text messages or check Facebook without committing a driving infraction or worse, endangering the lives of other road users.

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After Nevada in March, California's state Senate approved a bill last month to allow road-testing of autonomous cars. And at least four more states including Arizona, Hawaii, Florida and Oklahoma are planning to follow suit.

Advocates of autonomous or self-driving cars claim they reduce accidents, clear traffic congestion, lower emissions and provide unprecedented mobility to blind or disabled people. On the other hand, critics argue that the technology is unproven and could be unsafe.

Yet intelligent cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assist and parking assist systems have been successfully put to use in production vehicles for many years. Public acceptance is perhaps the only remaining roadblock for autonomous cars right now.


_{Source: Detroit News}