It's clear that autonomous vehicles are coming to the market place. The only question is how quickly.

Google garnered attention with its prototype of a self-driving car, Ford Motor Co. says it plans to sell driverless cars to the public by 2025, and several other manufacturers, such as Mercedes, BMW and Volvo, are in the test phase. And, in the United States at least, a true sign of the coming technology: The federal government issued regulations on autonomous cars on Sept. 20.

The vehicles are touted as a way for aging drivers and people with disabilities to maintain their independence. They're also predicted to increase traffic safety and cut down on distracted driving. Commercial truck fleets are also testing autonomous vehicles, and cargo container ships are interested in the technology as well.