> We will eventually update markings and beacons on the roads to make it easier for the cars, implement networks in which the cars can talk to each other, and make special lanes for self-driving cars only, among other improvements that will make it easier for the cars.

I feel like the correct way to describe this future isn't "self-driving cars", but rather "personal autonomous trains." In est, the road system described here would just be a rather clumsy railroad network.

I interpret the goal of having "self-driving cars" as referring to the ability to have a passenger vehicles that can autonomously navigate (wayfind?) off-road, i.e. what the aim of the DARPA Grand Challenge would eventually evolve into.