On Monday an Assembly transportation panel advanced a bill which would for the first time authorize companies to start testing self-driving cars on New Jersey roads. Under the bill, according to NorthJersey.com, manufacturers testing autonomous vehicles would have to certify their technology meets certain standards and gain approval from MVC. It also requires a human driver be behind the wheel at all times in case of an emergency, which is a lot stricter than what Michigan just passed. There they will allow self-driving cars to be tested with no driver on board and in fact without any steering wheel whatsoever. Imagine riding in that someday; a self-driving car where the option to take over isn't even there. Someone is confident.

Which brings up the question, how confident are you in a future with autonomous vehicles? Do you want to see this for New Jersey? Would you own one if you could?

Imagine getting your holiday shopping done at a crowded NJ mall where you don't have to fight for a parking space. Your self-driving car drops you off at the door, you command it to go find a space and park itself. When you're done, you use your key fob to command it to come find you wherever you are. How sweet is that? Imagine being able to end the debate about cell phone use while driving? Imagine all the extra time you could have to get work done? If I had a fully autonomous car right now I could be using my 40 minute drive to work to write this piece on autonomous cars instead of sitting at my dining room table. What a time saver!

I also think about all the ways the world would be changed. Speeding tickets and other traffic tickets a thing of the past, which is good, but municipalities hurting for cash and eyeing still higher property taxes, which is bad. Far fewer accidents and costly auto repair, which is good, but far fewer auto body jobs, which is bad. Once everyone is on the same grid, red lights could even go away, with cars talking to each other and north-south traffic whizzing by east-west traffic through intersections with just feet to spare. So much to think about, and it's coming whether we like it or not.

So, do you like it? Take our poll.

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