Self driving cars (and cyclists).

[Dawesboi]

Pedestrians who knew that they risked nothing by walking out into traffic might do so for all sorts of reasons. Utopia for many campaigners but it's hard to see it being allowed.

You would not 'risk nothing'. You are still stepping out in front of two tonnes of metal which has to bring itself to a stop or swerve around you, exactly as with a normal car. Also, I would like to think that the vast majority of drivers would instinctively take avoiding action exactly as a driverless car would- the only difference would be a slightly faster response time for the computer. Thirdly, how would a pedestrian be sure that every car in the vicinity was driverless- there's going to be a long, long period of time when both types of vehicle are on the road.

[Boyd]

You don't actually need an accident for traffic jams to occur. They occur when there is a set amount of traffic on the road. The front car slow down the next car reacts and brakes , the following car brakes harder a concertina effect takes place. With say the 10th car stopping completely. The department of transport are able to predict by simply counting cars on the road in a given distance. Driverless cars will supposedly send signals to each other allowing them to react quicker. Which will lead to less traffic jams....and more cars on the road??