I think some of you are very delusional and naive about the capability of technology to even come close to matching a human driver. Just look at the newer automated Airbus airplanes that virtually fly themselves. They have been known to fly themselves into the ground on numerous occasions due to the limitation of the technology. Humans, as dopey and distracted as they can be, are able to react instinctively. Machines will never reach that level. We cannot develop something that is smarter than we are. We are not gods. There is more pseudo-science involved in the common understanding of automated cars than science. The wow factor is there, and it wows those who rarely question everything. But there are too many factors that will keep automated cars from succeeding on any large or meaningful scale. I suspect we will see short stretches of roads with them wherein everything is strictly controlled. But that won't be widespread due to cost, limited technology, and the human male wanting to sit behind the seat of his shiny new sports car and go varooooooom! It is just pure Popular Mechanics dreaming.