I’m sure our friends on the other side of the pond can clarify but private automobile ownership in the UK is not as high as in the US and there is a far greater population that uses public(or private rail) transportation is their primary means of getting around.
The article seems to be making a case for the idea that self-navigating automobile will be so irrestible to the British(Scottish/Welsh) public that all will switch to that mode…
One might be able to make a stronger argument for California’s HSR plan vs. self driving cars…