Regulators in California have published draft proposals created to pave the way for the public to start using self-driving cars on the roads.
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“Given the potential risks associated with deployment of such a new technology, [the] DMV believes that manufacturers need to obtain more experience in testing driverless vehicles on public roads prior to making this technology available to the general public”, the agency said today.
Simpson added that deploying a self-driving auto service in places like college campuses “might be a sensible way to further this technology”. These “operators” would be responsible for traffic violations that the vehicle commits.
It will also require manufacturers to monitor the cars’ use, and the auto makers will have to conduct vehicle demonstration test through third-party testing organization to provide an independent performance verification of the vehicle.
Google – which is operating its self-driving cars on the streets of Palo Alto, California and Austin, Texas – and other carmakers and suppliers have said the technology to build self-driving cars should be ready by 2020.
“We’re gravely disappointed that California is already writing a ceiling on the potential for fully self-driving cars to help all of us who live here”, said Google in a statement.
“In developing vehicles that can take anyone from A to B at the push of a button, we’re hoping to transform mobility for millions of people, whether by reducing the 94 per cent of accidents caused by human error or bringing everyday destinations within reach of those who might otherwise be excluded by their inability to drive a auto”.
“Safety is our highest priority and primary motivator as we do this”, a Google spokesperson told The New York Times. The tech-giant also promised to have test drivers on board after this incident. Car-riding app provider Uber is also aggressively pursuing the development of self-driving vehicles, as are numerous major automakers, including Daimler, Audi and BMW.
Google plans to make its self-driving cars unit, which will offer rides for hire, a stand-alone business under its parent company Alphabet Inc next year, Bloomberg reported.
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However, regulations will continue to pose a threat to the growth of this business division.
