The only real threat to our driving enjoyment has gotten serious. GM is cutting costs to develop driverless technology. They will start by using The Volt as its testing platform.

Up until now, this tech was being developed by Google and other non car companies. That put its deployment years down the road. However, with the big car companies like GM jumping in, this could put it on the fast track.

The only way I can see this technology working is with dedicated streets and highways just for them. To me this is the beginning of the end of manned driving vehicles. The newest generation will jump on this. Hey, you can play video games all the way to work. Put on makeup, watch TV, play on the internet etc, and not have to pay attention to the road. Every day I see people do stupid things by not paying attention. 2 times last Saturday distracted drivers almost ran into me. You know they want this tech, so they can get back to their phones!

The history and enjoyment of owning and driving classic cars may now be in its last years. I am sort of glad I am old enough that I may not see it fully happen in my lifetime. Until it does happen ...

 

Ditto on the dire prediction about manual driving. They may try optional at first but the "benefits" will lead to mandatory. Police and even some DMVs have suggested they should have the ability to remotely disable a vehicle. Of course politicians will likely exempt themselves and their buddies.

 

My fear is not without truth. In a report on a Driverless car crash, the tech guy they interviewed said it was the fault of the Driver of the other car involved and Not their software.

 

Lincoln was doing some testing on some of the roads in San Diego a few years back. The roads had embedded magnets to keep the car between the lines and also using the "now"
Adaptive Cruise Control found on many Ford vehicles. My wife's 14 Edge has this and it is something. Set cruise to the speed, set car length distance, that's it. Automatically accelerates, brakes, and then resumes keeping the programmed speed and following distance.
A lot of trust mind you!

 

My son was interning for a car company I wont mention, and last summer I rode in one of these drive itself cars. It was a prototype and was pretty impressive. But I still think in general they need a lot more development before I would totally trust it.

 

Once again, this has nothing to do with 3rd gens and is definitely not history related.