The road ahead seems to be clear.

With Ford, Google, Uber, and Tesla racing to get the first self-driving vehicle on the road, there is little doubt the future of travel will be automated.

But what roadblocks stand between us and the roll-out of technology which could ultimately lead to full automation and driverless cars?

Along with manufacturers and software engineers, other industries are taking note, with insurers, lawyers and policy makers all watching with interest to see how drivers and pasengers embrace the changes.

Driverless cars have already been tested in Milton Keynes and Volvo has announced plans to begin testing in London next year.

As well as changing how we live our lives, driverless cars could affect every related industry, from car washes and mechanics, free up acres of parking for development, and remodel how our cities look and work.

Law firm Mills and Reeve will host a conference exploring the subject in September. Partner James Hunter said legal and ethical issues were now bigger than the technological challenges.

'Just at the point where we conclude that driverless means safer, some difficult questions are asked,' he said. 'How do we teach the system to make ethical choices when faced with competing decisions? Should the system choose to hit a person or swerve into an oncoming truck? It is at this point that most people throw the question at the law-makers.'