Roads That Work for Self-Driving Cars

In May, a Tesla TSLA 0.39 % "autopilot" enthusiast in Florida became the first known fatality in a self-driving car. But this was no ordinary accident. The car performed exactly as designed, and the (non)driver's failure to take any corrective action could reasonably have been foreseen by the manufacturer. This unwelcome yet widely anticipated milestone may set back progress on what promises to be one of the most valuable technologies of the 21st century. In its rush to get hot new products into consumers' hands, Tesla--along with many other car manufacturers--has pursued a flawed vision of the future, one in which tomorrow's technology is simply layered on top of today's.