Would autonomous cars lead to higher taxes?

That could well be the case, according to a report by the Brookings Institution. Why? Because municipalities stand to lose hundreds of millions of dollars in traffic fines once autonomous cars become the preferred mode of travel. The autonomous car won’t speed, tailgate, run red lights, or any other of the behaviors that result in fines that fill municipal coffers; but the municipalities will still have the same responsibility to maintain the local roads, perform maintenance on the traffic signals, etc.

That will be offset somewhat by reduced traffic crashes and more efficient trips, but the expert at the Brookings Institution doesn’t think it will be enough.

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