California DMV to start approving permits for self-driving delivery vehicles, with and without backup drivers, from Jan. 17, both for testing and commercial use (California Dmv Jan.brownjalopnik)

California Dmv Jan.brownjalopnik: California DMV to start approving permits for self-driving delivery vehicles, with and without backup drivers, from Jan. 17, both for testing and commercial use

Introduction: Google is one of the many companies looking to get in on the ground floor of self-driving cars. The tech giant’s prototype vehicle has already travelled 1.4 million miles (2.3 million kilometers). In the future, these robotic vehicles will replace traditional human-driven automobiles.(…)” “The new regulations, which take effect Jan. 17, are meant to make it easier for companies to test their vehicles on public roads and ultimately deploy them in the real world. Under the rules, drivers will need to be ready to take over when needed, but they will still be able to call (and pay) bills while traveling without anyone behind the steering wheel.”

“For Google, driverless cars are just another step in its effort to turn San Francisco into a global testing center for self-driving technology. The company has been exploring self-driving cars since 2009 and first started lobbying the state’s government for legal changes in 2015. In a Feb. 17 letter, Google wrote that the new rules will help it research public roadways, detect pedestrians and bicyclists, and better manage traffic.” “A lack of standardization also makes it difficult to certify that a system is safe enough to be certified and put on a vehicle. For example, there is no accepted way to test an autonomous vehicle’s ability to detect bicycles. “The first autonomous vehicles are expected on California roads in the next six months and it is critical officials have a path forward to allow companies to innovate,” said Rhonda Smith, spokesperson for the California Department of Motor Vehicles.”

“Google isn’t alone in that strategy. A number of major companies including Ford Motor and Uber Technologies have also put self-driving cars on public roads. Google, Uber and Nissan Motor Co. are all testing self-driving vehicles in the state.” “The rules that were drafted by the DMV’s office of autonomous vehicle policy did not respond to many of the key issues that automakers raised, said John Simpson, privacy project director at Consumer Watchdog. That included how to handle liability and the different tests needed between their cars run in normal traffic and on public roads that are usually much more open.” “Of course, as with any major advancement in technology, self-driving cars have sparked a great deal of controversy. Some drivers have expressed concerns about being able to lose control of their vehicle if a crash occurs.