I don't think fully autonomous cars are the future. I'm sure that cars with an over abundance of computer regulation and safety features(idiot proofing) are in the future. They're kind of here now. No one really seems to want to focus on driving, hence all the media about fatal texting and driving etc.
The thing is, is the cost. That's the reason I don't see them(fully automated cars) being the future. To get a car with the works, you pretty much have to be rich or be willing to go into debt when you take out a loan on the down payment. I know a lot of jack offs do this with cars anyways and pretty much always have, either out of necessity or for kicks. I just mean, that even as cars like this become more normal or get more allowances for testing and such, the cost isn't going to suddenly plummet to where the average joe can afford one. Even when selling to the mass market becomes a thing, they won't be able to not put in pedals and a wheel. Not because they suddenly careen out of control, but because if their systems fail while you're out somewhere, but the car engine and rest of the car work fine, it wouldn't make much sense to not be able to just drive away by yourself. Not so inconvenient in a city setting, but out in the rural countryside, that would be hellish. "Oh yeah, honey, could you get in our other car and come get me? My car glitched, and it won't start back up." - then the unlikely, but possible scenario, "Welp, I guess both of us are stuck out here, 20 miles from home, 40 miles from a city." or even better, "Honey, our first car glitched, so I activated our second to come get me, and it glitched and got stuck inbetween the routes. I don't know where it is exactly. lol"
Heck, Tow Trucks, while possible to automate, would not be fully automated because of such a possibility.
As awesome and orderly as it would be to have a fully automated roadway, I just don't see the human element ever being completely removed. If there's one thing people like, it's having control over their own possessions.