More seriously, I don't understand yet what automation will solve. A few examples:
* In urban areas, the day passengers of mass transportation start taking small automated vehicle because it is as affordable, we are doomed. How many automated vehicles do you need for one bus, one subway?
* People refrain from taking their car sometimes because of parking issues. Now for a short shopping trip, they will take an automated vehicle and, if it is their own, let it drive around. No need to park. Great. Or they will do more short trips than before because it suddenly became convenient.
* Now that my car has automation, I will take longer trips on the freeway than before. Of course, I'll be alone in the car. What's the point otherwise: if I had passengers, I would share the driving and would do it now already.
It is not about technology but how people will use it. It may actually get congestion, pollution, space issues use worse by increasing traffic.
Finally about safety. Current fatalities are close to 1 per 100 million km in Europe and North America (just the order of magnitude, correct with actual numbers if you wish). That includes all weather conditions, road environments etc. So let's wait for similar performance before bragging about anything. We may never get there (investment needs for most complex scenarios vs. safety improvements ).
Old mail has arrived.