Engineering advances have put automated vehicles on an accelerating path toward commercial availability and, eventually, wider use. But a recent fatal accident involving a car that used semi-autonomous technology might stall the future of self-driving cars. Automated vehicles' promise for improving fuel efficiency, increasing road safety and relieving traffic congestion has been well documented. The realization of those benefits, however, rests not only on technological advancement but also on public acceptance. For driverless cars to reach their full potential, especially in improving vehicle safety, they must first achieve high levels of market penetration. Though certain sectors , such as ride-sharing operations, could be early adopters of these cars, widespread use will not come until public trust is gained.