Interesting synopsis of potential benefits and the imminent arrival of the future. Also noted is the recent story of Telsa cars, some fatalities, but also some (or at least one) saved lives. (A Telsa car auto piloted to a hospital to save the life of the occupant who had a heart attack while test driving it).

There are, of course, ramifications for everything. You noted potential displacement of transportation employment and lost revenues. I am not sure how you replace those revenues to maintain roads and roadways if there is that much of a loss, but no loss in need for the roads (although the actual humans using them may shrink, cargo will still need to be moved).

Of course, if the demand is shrunk for vehicles, those few that are produced could be much more expensive per copy which may be disporpotunately borne by those who are NOT city (or big city) dwellers. So great care should be taken to ensure that policy makers know and understand that cookie cutter one size fits all policy or legal enactments may not work.