You may be anxiously awaiting the time when you can  purchase a car that entirely drives itself. When that day happens, you will be sitting behind the wheel but mostly as a spectator. You will be able to relax while your car does all the work and makes most of the tough decisions. The day of the fully autonomous car is not that far off, and when it does arrive, you will greatly benefit from it. 

Current Models

Although you may not realize it, today's cars have autonomous features. As those in the automobile industry point out, we are already halfway to having self-driving cars. For instance, cruise control keeps pressure on the throttle without you pressing the gas pedal. Many cars already have a self-parking feature, and others have Lane Departure Warning systems to keep you from drifting and causing an accident. In addition, you can buy vehicles that warn you of a possible forward collision. 

Challenges

The automotive industry is working hard to overcome some big obstacles to the driverless car. These vehicles will need to be nearly flawless, otherwise they will cause fatalities. In fact, the car will need all the ability of the human brain to "think" about driving choices. The cost of these vehicles will undoubtedly be high when they initially are released, meaning that the average person will have to wait longer to own their own self-driving model. Also, the nation's roads and highways will need to be in good condition and standardized as much as possible to allow these cars to function well. 

Advantages

These vehicles will improve your life by giving you more "down" time. Instead of focusing on the road, you can surf the web or even read a book. You can also talk with the other passengers or text to your heart's content. When the technology is perfected, you will be safer, because human error will no longer be an issue. When you drive, sometimes you are tired and distracted. Your car will not have those problems. These vehicles will also be able to improve traffic conditions by choosing the least congested route through "connected vehicle" technology. Basically, these cars will be communicating with each other to minimize overcrowding on the roads.

Autonomous cars are on the way. They are already being tested in various locations. Currently, you are benefiting from some driverless technology. Soon, your daily commute will be a relaxing, stress-free affair, and long vacation trips will be a breeze. You can read more about driverless cars and other automobile technology on websites online.