Requiring neither hands on the steering wheel nor a foot on the gas pedal or brakes, the Nissan Motor Co. car making its way on Japanese public roads is packed with radars, lasers, cameras and computer chips, the Associated Press reports.

Nissan's "intelligent driving" feature is smart enough to navigate intersections without lane markers. It also brakes safely to a stop without crashing into the vehicle in front, and it knows the difference between a red light and a tail-lamp.

Reporters were given a half-hour test ride in the prototype vehicle Tuesday, November 3, on a scenic but pre-programmed course on Tokyo roads, which included stopping at traffic lights, making turns, changing lanes and crossing a bridge across the bay.

The car was painstakingly careful, like someone extra cautious on the road.

It always stayed within the speed limit. And it slowed down, appearing to be "thinking" at slightly complicated situations, such as cars coming from another lane. The system is designed to recognize people and if a pedestrian jumped out onto the road, the car should come to a stop.

Nissan, which also makes the Infiniti luxury model and the March subcompact, is preparing the autonomous driving option for vehicles going on sale in 2020.

It plans to have abbreviated versions of the technology starting from next year, such as keeping a safe distance from the car in front on congested roads.