Bumpy path predicted for self-driving cars in Australia

Like most new technologies, self-driving cars are tipped to come with a mixture of pros and cons. (Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson/AAP PHOTOS)

Autonomous cars could slash transport pollution by driving more efficiently, avoiding traffic snarls and reducing the need for car parks. 

But with the wrong policy settings, the technology could undo those savings by putting more cars on the road, discouraging public transport and encouraging urban sprawl.