I've seen estimates in industry reports estimating a 400% increase in vehicle miles per year as a result of auto-piloted vehicles. We clearly need to rethink how we inhabit this planet as this is complete insanity.
A 4x increase, but a world without speed limits, stop lights, or traffic lanes. We could support 10 times the amount of traffic in that case.
That sounds hellish for walkers, cyclists, motorcyclists, and people who enjoy quiet.
That sort of thing won't happen on regular city streets. Maybe on freeways.
It's already crap on roads in the US (the US has very few of what you'd call a "street" - "stroad" would be more accurate). Having more VMT even with current speeds makes it worse. It's shameful that EV's are being forced to be loud when urban noise pollution is already terrible.
It will still be loud as hell. Especially with rules mandating that EV's be as loud as their internal-combustion counterparts.
Sure it will. You'll be able to walk right out into traffic safely
Right. Because once you have AI the laws of physics no longer apply. The braking distance with an instantaneous reaction time at just 40mph is still about 20 feet.
All the cars around you will see you before you get anywhere near the road. As long as you approach the road to cross, perhaps as you've always done, you'll be granted access to cross with little fear.