IMO, so many things wrong with what the science types have said. first you need to communicate with other vehicles. What if, like 90% of vehicles out there, they can't communicate? Drive in pods. So what happens when someone cuts into that pod? And don't say it will never happen, because I've seen cars cut through 3 lanes of traffic before, trying to get to an offramp 100 feet away. Heck, just cars trying to merge left right to get off on freeways. Does a pod recognize like a human can that a car is trying to merge in, especially when it seems like 50% of cars out there didn't purchase the optional turn signals?
In a closed environment, I think self driving cars would work well. But once you put humans into the equation, well, as the old saying goes. Once you make something idiot proof, someone invents a better idiot. And there are a lot of idiots on the roads with and without licenses.