Can anyone tell me why "driverless cars" will not be the most important issue in 2016 election

[Xithras]

95. Freightliner is already working on semi-automated heavy trucks.

Fully automating them becomes a problem when you factor in things like backing into a dock, or self-lumping and strapping a load, which can't really be done in an automated fashion, but there are already FUNCTIONAL prototypes of systems that will reduce the need for drivers on long-haul routes. One of these is an "automated convoy" system in which the lead truck is directed by a human, followed by several computer controlled trucks that are essentially playing follow-the-leader. When the truck arrives at the destination, the driver is responsible for any manual work involved, but out on the road the autonomous trucks do their own thing under the direction of the driver in the lead truck.

There are, of course, other variations of this. Like having driving teams in multiple trucks that simply trade off the lead position, creating convoys that never have to stop, or having the lead truck contain living quarters for several drivers, while keeping all of the cargo in the computer controlled trucks, to accomplish the same thing.

In the long term, it's possible that we may see fully automated trucks, but those will require a number of changes to the industry as a whole. You'd need truck stops to become full service, for example, so that there will be humans available to fill the fuel tanks periodically. Trucking companies would need to start hiring local talent to meet up with the trucks to dock them and tie down cargo, or the shippers and receivers would need to take responsibility for that sort of thing. You'll need to change the way weigh stations work, to account for driverless trucks, and you'll have to work out responsibility when shippers overload those driverless trucks. There are a number of challenges, but none are insurmountable. Given the cost savings and safety improvements involved, I'd guess that we'll be there in within 15 years.