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Autonomous cars are not coming.

A certain amount of over familiarity with western driving conditions blinds these attempts to the reality that there are two worlds on the roads - the legal and socially manufactured layer and reality.

Which is why looking at the actual problem space, like nations where road rules tend to be ignored, makes it clear that what you actually have to solve for.

It has been highlighted before - but the autonomous car can only work if the road itself is active / aware

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Societies (and therefore roadsystems) will adapt, because speed and safety. Roads will be changed to cater to the needs of self-driving cars; smart traffic lights, clear lining, clear signage, less leveled intersections, dedicated lanes, I can think of dozens more changes which make it easier and safer and more deterministic for computers to drive cars.

Development of these changes will be spurred once self-driving cars can make more efficient use of the road; the immense pressure of society to get rid of traffic jams will make sure of that.

Maybe some nations won't implement these things nationwide with 100% coverage, but they certainly will implement changes for certain roads. Highway roads first, then collector roads, and lastly neighborhood roads.

In America, at least, many (most?) roads and highways are already neglected and getting worse. This is, so we hear, due to a lack of money to keep our roads properly maintained. If we don't have the money to do that, where is the money to retro-fit every road in the country to accomodate autonomous vehicles going to come from?

It's a good question since most of those cars are electric.

Taxes typically taken in at the gas pump are being skirted around by having electric cars. Do we just start charging MUCH more for registration? Especially cause these cars have the potential to operate most of the day (except when charging) so they will be causing more wear than a normal car.

Passenger vehicles (ICE or electric) cause negligible wear on roads. The vast majority of road wear is caused by heavy trucks and other large vehicles like buses. There's a non-linear relationship between vehicle weight and road damage.

Proportional to the fourth power, actually

http://www.pavementinteractive.org/equivalent-single-axle-lo...

An 18-wheeler causes 10,000 times the wear of a car, approximately.

It's not just about road wear. Just installing and maintaining the support infrastructure (traffic lights, road signs, cameras, etc.) and planning the whole system would also count for a big chunk of expenses.

In New Zealand, Road User Charges (RUC) are charged separately on diesel vehicles, where petrol vehicles typically pay for them at the pump.

Presumably, you would pay the RUC in the same manner for electric vehicles at some point, if it isn't already in place. (I don't own one so don't know if they're already required.)

Assuming 40 mpg equivalent, gas taxes for 2 years (the period of a registration in NY) would come to about $300 for 15K miles. That may seem like a lot compared to some states, but I know some charge substantial property taxes on cars anyway. And some states already have special charges of $100 or more for hybrids and electric cars.

I'm not sure what you are referring to when you say electric cars have the potential to operate most of the day. How is it that gasoline cars don't?

Referring more to the self-driving aspect. Gas cars can as well but most services are trying to go electric.

In America, I predict society to realize they need much less roads. It's much better to have less but much better quality roads.

I'm unsure of how this change will get traction. I suspect states will eventually explain their infra budget cuts.

If everybody were to give up driving, wouldn't we still need highways for freight?

This is a great idea, then your city could be "smart car certified" and if your city doesn't meet the requirements, then your smart car doesn't allow its autopilot to be turned on.

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