Self-driving cars confused by US roadways with faded markings and poor signs

Volvo's North American CEO, Lex Kerssemakers, lost his cool as the automaker's semi-autonomous prototype sporadically refused to drive itself during a press event at the Los Angeles Auto Show. 'It can't find the lane markings!' Kerssemakers griped to Mayor Eric Garcetti, who was at the wheel. 'You need to paint the bloody roads here!' Shoddy infrastructure has become a roadblock to the development of self-driving cars, vexing engineers and adding time and cost. Poor markings and uneven signage are forcing automakers to develop more sophisticated sensors and maps to compensate, industry executives say. Boston Consulting Group estimates that initial semi-autonomous features add 4,000 to a car's price.