Self-driving vehicles now have some rules after the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) approved a series of new regulations that will allow for the testing phase of cars without drivers to go forth. The new set of rules will go into place on Sept. 16, 2014.
Many had expected the move to take place with the state DMV having already pushed back last December such regulations in order to hold public hearings on the matter in January. There were many concerns over such vehicles and their potential safety hazard on roads.
Google, one of the forerunners in the self-driving car sector, has been doing pilot drives in Mountain View where the company headquarters is based. Now, there will be statewide standards all manufacturers must meet in order to sell their product.
Experts believe that despite the new rules, it will be difficult for manufacturers, who may be forced to look at alternatives in how their vehicles are made.
The text of the new rules being passed shows that vehicles must apply for a testing permit and secure a $5 million insurance or safety bond. The permit will be renewed annually, the DMV said.
To gain a permit, a certified driver must go through the DMV-approved training program that includes "defensive driver training, including practical experience in recovering from hazardous driving scenarios" as well as "instruction that matches the level of the autonomous test vehicle driver's experience operating the specific type of automated driving system technology with the level of technical maturity of the automated system."
Applications are now available in the state. They go for a $150 fee and allows for up to 10 vehicles on the road at a given time.
Self-driving cars have become much more popular, and even the hit HBO television series Silicon Valley featured one of the driverless vehicles in an episode. Google believes that through its financial backing and innovative teams working on the projects, a self-driving car is much closer to becoming an item on the road as ever before.
Investment in the technology has also grown dramatically and with the appearance of a number of models here in Silicon Valley, there appears to be an appetite for the vehicles without needing a driver to fill the seat.
