A brave new road

Self-driving cars are turning heads at car shows, but don't expect them to be available at your local dealership anytime soon.

In 20 years, the experience of driving a car could be a lot like riding on a plane. There won't be any need to look at the road, as "self-driving" vehicles usher you to the office while you scroll through your iPad. This is the rosy future that many traditional car manufacturers are describing today. Google's version of the driverless car doesn't even have a steering wheel. That's an exception though, as most driverless cars being developed have steering wheels and allow people to take control of the car whenever they want to.

Driverless cars were the highlight of the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this month. Almost every major auto brand, including Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Ford and Nissan, showcased their prototypes - or ambitious plans - for the autonomous vehicles.