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If and when all cars are computer-controlled another consequence may be that children will be free to roam about. This assumes that those same cars are built to be incapable of hitting pedestrians. Is this possible?

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Children will be able to manipulate the cars and therefore create a bottleneck for others, this is a major issue outlined in the article.

Well, this sort of behavior has (presumably) already happened [1], but this also gets to the crux of "unintended consequences". Will we see kids deliberately walking in the street, knowing full well they aren't going to get hit and extorting drivers to let them pass?

1 - https://electrek.co/2016/07/21/tesla-autopilot-saved-life-pr...

Yes I'm sure this sort of thing will happen however I imagine the overall social consequences would be beneficial. Children are highly confined at present and the ability to roam and talk to different people, walk to school, etc, has been lost. Largely for fear of their being run over by traffic.

Largely for fear of their being run over by traffic.

Are you sure? I get the feeling that good old Stranger Danger is still alive and well, and automated cars won't in any way change that.

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