The Department of Motor Vehicles of California drafted regulations against allowing self-driving cars to be on the road without licensed drivers behind the wheel on Wednesday, but amidst Google's dismay, Texas is reminding the Tech giant that its innovation is welcome on Texas roads.
Google has been testing its autonomous retrofitted Lexus Sports Utility Vehicles in Austin since July followed by its small prototype vehicle shortly after. It currently self-drove more than a million miles between California and Texas test drives. However, while Google has been testing its autonomous cars in California in 2009, the State still believes that the technology may not be as safe as it is claimed to be.
"Safety is our highest priority and primary motivator as we do this," Google spokesperson Johny Luu wrote in a statement where the Tech company expressed its disappointment over the DMV's proposed regulations.
Texas, however, is thrilled about the presence of Google's autonomous cars in its State and a spokesperson for Mayor Steve Adler of Austin says they believe the technology is safe.
Texas currently has no legislations or regulations that would restrict the testing and eventual rollout of autonomous cars in the Lone Star State and Google is hoping to keep it that way. It is also hoping that Texas would allow the self-driven cars to maneuver on its roads without a licensed driver inside, unlike California's drafted restriction.
"California's proposed rules are great news for Texas," Bryant Walker Smith, a University of South Carolina School of Law Assistant Professor said. He added that California is going in the wrong direction considering it has led the creation of frameworks that forced car manufacturers to improve its technology and find a way to produce electric vehicles that boast zero-emissions.
Since Texas does not seem to see the autonomous vehicles as a threat to public safety, perhaps Google would prefer to roll it out there instead, which is great news for Texas. Too bad for California residents who were excited about it, though.
