Google and a number of automakers are spearheading the movement to get automated vehicles on America's roads, with self-driving cars now street legal in three states and Google's fleet having collectively logged over 300,000 miles of time on the road. However, there are several obstacles in the path of widespread adoption, with legal and moral opposition to the concept coming from all corners.

One of the major players in the autonomous vehicle space, General Motors, has recently pulled the plug on its grand robotaxi experiment, Cruise. The automaker's CEO, Mary Barra, made the surprise announcement, arguing that a shared autonomous mobility service was never really in its "core business." Instead, GM would pivot to "privately owned" driverless cars, which is what the people really wanted, according to Barra.

However, the project became too expensive for GM to justify the huge amounts of money spent to prop it up. The robotaxi subsidiary lost a staggering $3.48 billion in 2023 and was seen by some as an albatross for the automaker, sucking up cash and lacking a clear path to profits. The decision to shut down Cruise has raised questions about the viability of autonomous vehicle technology and its ability to save lives on America's roads.

Despite the setbacks, other companies are pushing forward with autonomous vehicle technology. Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, has been testing its robotaxis in several cities, including San Francisco and Las Vegas. The company has also been working on ways to communicate intent to other road users, either through audio recordings or visual cues. Waymo's driverless Jaguar I-Pace vehicles will use their roof domes, which are wrapped in LED displays, to communicate messages to other road users.

In addition to Waymo, Amazon's robotaxi company, Zoox, is expanding its operating conditions in Foster City and Las Vegas. The robotaxis will start driving at night, as well as in light rain and damp road conditions. They will also start driving at speeds of up to 45 mph on multi-lane roads.

However, the road to widespread adoption of autonomous vehicle technology is not without its challenges. There are concerns about the safety of the vehicles, with several incidents involving Waymo's driverless cars, including a recent crash in San Francisco. There are also concerns about the regulatory framework, with some arguing that there is a "loophole large enough for Elon Musk, General Motors and Waymo to drive thousands of cars through."

Despite these challenges, proponents of autonomous vehicle technology argue that it has the potential to save thousands of lives on America's roads. With the number of fatalities on the roads continuing to rise, the need for a solution is clear. Autonomous vehicle technology may be the answer, but it will require continued investment and innovation to overcome the obstacles in its path.

In conclusion, the development of autonomous vehicle technology is a complex and ongoing process. While there have been setbacks, such as the shutdown of Cruise, other companies are pushing forward with the technology. With the potential to save thousands of lives on America's roads, the importance of getting autonomous vehicle technology right cannot be overstated.