Why Are We Still Driving?

Self-driving cars promise a future of significantly safer roads by eliminating human error, which currently accounts for the vast majority of the 40,000 annual traffic fatalities in the United States. Andrew Miller, author of *The End of Driving*, argues that the transition to robo-taxi fleets will unlock massive amounts of human attention and time. However, achieving this vision requires solving complex liability issues, as manufacturers must accept responsibility for system failures. While automated vehicles offer potential reductions in parking infrastructure and pollution, they also risk exacerbating urban congestion or undermining public transit if not integrated thoughtfully. The shift challenges deep-seated American cultural norms surrounding personal independence and the "romance of the road," forcing a societal reckoning between the efficiency of automated systems and the value of human agency and embodied skills.