California State Senator Alex Padilla arrived at a press conference at the State capitol today in a Google Inc.-modified Toyota Prius that drives itself. Said Padilla, "
"It was smooth. It probably drove better than we would have driven."
Padilla wants the state to be ready and is a believer."Autonomous vehicles have
the potential to significantly reduce traffic fatalities and improve
safety on our roads and highways," Padilla said.
The form of transportation was selected to underscore the announcement of new legislation by Senator Padilla, written with Google's input.
The legislation directs the California Highway Patrol to develop guidelines for the safe future operation of autonomous vehicles within the state. Nevada has already passed autonomous vehicle legislation, that would allow registration road testing of self-driving vehicles within the state, and lawmakers in Arizona, Oklahoma, Florida, and Hawaii have introduced similar legislation. Although most states don't specifically prohibit or permit autonomous vehicles, this very silence can fail to create the sort of regulatory structure and certainty that can encourage companies to have a clearer path forward to proceed with new innovations.
The legislation directs the California Highway Patrol to develop guidelines for the safe future operation of autonomous vehicles within the state. Nevada has already passed autonomous vehicle legislation, that would allow registration road testing of self-driving vehicles within the state, and lawmakers in Arizona, Oklahoma, Florida, and Hawaii have introduced similar legislation. Although most states don't specifically prohibit or permit autonomous vehicles, this very silence can fail to create the sort of regulatory structure and certainty that can encourage companies to have a clearer path forward to proceed with new innovations.
"Look, Ma, no hands!" Mahan, who is 95% blind "drives" a self-driving car |
"It is about creating the right kind of framework for the next step, should we move beyond the testing phase," Nancarrow said.
Google's autonomous cars have driven themselves
200,000 miles in California -- across the Golden Gate Bridge, along the
Pacific Coast Highway and on Hollywood Boulevard, according to the
company. They have reported one accident, which occurred while under human operation. Although Google has been working on the technology for over ten years, they don't have a projected mass production date or price range at this point.
Update: The State of Nevada has since issued the first ever license for a driverless car in May of 2012.
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