For those of us who will soon head over the river and through the woods to meet up with family, the holidays mean travel. Last year, nearly 100 million Americans hit the road during the season and the number only seems to rise each year.

The latest and greatest tech isn’t lim- ited to what’s under the tree. Driverless vehicles are poised to make many of our travel headaches a part of Christ- mas past—and sooner than you think.

Just take a look at what’s happening this December alone. Waymo, a lead- ing player in the autonomous vehicle market, launched the first driverless taxi service and GM is focusing on similar technology. And just in time for cold winter days, Elon Musk recently an- nounced that the next Tesla upgrade would enhance its “Summon” feature so that your vehicle can come to you so long as it’s within your sight.

What once seemed as far away and fantastical as Santa’s workshop is now rapidly becoming reality. These ad- vancements will be a wonderful gift for holiday travelers. Driverless cars will help reduce winter woes like fighting traffic or finding the best route to our destinations, lessening the pain of long or crosstown road trips by letting every- one simply enjoy the ride.

Most importantly, driverless cars can help ensure that everyone makes it home for the holidays safely. More than 94 percent of auto accidents are caused by human error. While the technology isn’t perfect yet, it’s far better than most people realize—and the vehicles don’t get drowsy, drunk or distracted. They could save the lives of many people who suffer from the consequences of bad choices made after holiday parties or on New Year’s Eve.

While red-nosed reindeer may be guiding Santa’s way, driverless cars may soon make it easier for the rest of us. By next year, maybe Rudolph can even take some time off.