Self-driving cars could be available by 2020

Self-driving cars will be available to buy within the next decade, it has been claimed.

Alan Taub, who is the vice-president of research and development at General Motors, has predicted that some cars will be semi-autonomous by 2015 and some will need no assistance from drivers by 2020.

General Motors has already developed an autopilot function which uses radar to maintain a constant travelling speed. Other tools such as parking sensors, lane departure warning systems and blind-spot alerts are already frequently mentioned by salesmen when selling a car.

In an interview with themotorreport.com.au, he claimed that such technology could be integrated with sat-nav systems so that drivers could completely hand over driving responsibilities to the car itself.

He said: "The technologies we're developing will provide an added convenience by partially or even completely taking over the driving duties. The primary goal, though, is safety. Future generation safety systems will eliminate the crash altogether by interceding on behalf of drivers.

"In the coming years, we believe the industry will experience a dramatic leap in active safety systems and, hopefully, a dramatic decline in injuries and fatalities on our roads."

According to autoguide.com, it is thought that one day vehicles will be able to drop off its driver, park itself and then be summoned by a smartphone.

Chris & Clare Beddoes, Worcester, Chevrolet Kalos

Paul Revill, Nottingham, Toyota Yaris Verso