New legislation passed by the state of California allows testing autonomous models without a driver inside the vehicle.
One small step for man, one big leap to… autonomous driving. The state of California – home to several companies linked to autonomous driving technologies, such as Apple, Tesla and Google – was the first US state to allow this type of tests to be carried out on public roads. This means that from now on, manufacturers will be able to test prototypes 100% autonomous, without steering wheel, brake pedal or accelerator, and without the presence of a driver inside the vehicle.SEE ALSO: All the details of the first fatal accident with an autonomous car
However, the state of California has stipulated a set of conditions under which the tests can be legal. Firstly, the tests will have to take place “in pre-designated business parks”, which could include the public roads around these same parks. Vehicles will never be able to circulate above 56 km/h, and the validity and safety of their technology will have to be proven in controlled environment locations. The car must also have insurance, or an equivalent liability coverage, in the minimum amount of 5 million dollars (about 4.4 million euros), and finally, the vehicles in question are required to report any problems with the autonomous driving technology.
Source: Autocar