Americans drive more than ever. Will driverless cars change that?

Have you ever wondered how much time you lose each year commuting during rush hour, or driving to a weekend getaway in holiday traffic, or even to the supermarket? That's how much time the average American spends behind the wheel each year, according to a new study the traffic safety organization released Thursday. But the American Driving Survey, the second of its kind, comes as driving culture, already undergoing significant change, is poised to take another significant leap. Not only are fewer younger, urban-dwelling Americans driving or owning cars, according to AAA, but new and traditional automakers are also in a race to develop driverless vehicles. At least 19 automakers aim to develop autonomous car technology by 2020, and some transportation analysts predict that in 25 years Americans will start giving up their cars for self-driving vehicles. More productivity, says Peter Stone, a computer science professor that studies traffic congestion, and is the founder and director of the Learning Agents Research Group at the University of Texas at Austin.