As I've said many times, I really doubt the fantasy version of the driverless car, one which really works everywhere, is going to be real anytime soon. The driverless limited area golf cart certainly might.
But even if the fantasy version works, how does it change the world? I think people who have relatively car dependent lifestyles just think, "cool, I won't have to drive." Urbanists imagine that driverless cars will reduce the need for car ownership and parking.
I guess I don't share that urbanist-utopian vision of them. We'll still have the problem of peak car, both in terms of needing vehicles and in terms of road congestion. Ok, sure, it's a better taxi/carsharing service. That's something. But not world-changing.
