The talks and speculations of having Google’s autonomous cars offering hailing services is far from new, but this time, the reports of the plan appears to be more than likely well thought of and is looking like it will be finally come to fruition.
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Eventually, the regulations may loosen as the cars are found to be safe, but for the first several years following any deployment to the public, the autonomous-vehicle landscape might be mired in red tape. Google has suggested a model could be ready for limited use sooner than the public expects. In September, the safety chief of its self-driving auto project, Ron Medford, said the technology was “close to working pretty damn well”.
While California law doesn’t now allow general use of self-driving cars on public roads, Google might be able to offer such a service on private properties and college campuses.
The DMV says the draft regulations are meant to promote the continued development of autonomous vehicle technology in California, while transitioning manufacturers from testing to deployment of self-driving cars.
The rules aren’t set in stone. While most of the rules announced by the California DMV are along expected lines, a few are seemingly out-of-sync with Google’s line of thinking.
Other companies potentially affected by this legislation would be California-based Tesla and Uber.
Manufacturers are also required to disclose the data they collect, other than from safety systems, and obtain approval to collect it. Concerns that self-driving cars could be a way for major data collectors like Google to collect information on consumers have fueled privacy concerns. This will be a great initiative if it goes through and will hopefully do a lot good for the autonomous auto industry as a whole.
Drivers would need special, manufacturer-provided training, then get a special certification on their licenses.
The rules also require that a human driver still be present. Alphabet’s businesses include connected home products maker Nest, venture capital arm Google Ventures, and Google X, the secretive research arm which houses the self-driving auto unit.
In a statement to Automotive News, Google said that California’s rules would hold back a technology that could improve safety standards on roads and enhance mobility for people who can’t drive.
Likewise, it requires that a licensed driver should be behind the wheel so in case the technology fails, the driver will be in control.
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Eleven companies already have permission to test on California’s public roads, with Ford the latest addition.
