Google Finds Proposed Calif. Autonomous Car Regulations Disappointing

However, since self-driving cars are not yet legal without a driver behind the wheel, even in states that allow for self-driving cars to be operated on public roads, Google would likely have to, at first, use the cars only on private property, shuttling students around on college campuses, business people in business parks or servicemen on military bases.

Though no manufacturer has said it thinks the cars are ready, at least a dozen are developing the technology, and the most aggressive suggest a model could be ready within a few years. At night, the piloted cars would return home to Google where they could be serviced and monitored. State officials want a special training program and an “autonomous vehicle operator certificate” before individuals are deemed qualified to drive a self-driving auto.

A Google self-driving vehicle in California.

California has grappled for several years with how to regulate the technology.

While the draft released Wednesday does not directly address vehicles like the Google prototype, the DMV said it believed that “manufacturers need to obtain more experience in testing driverless vehicles on public roads prior to making this technology available to the general public”.

Interestingly, the proposed legislation would see the driver held responsible for any accident not clearly the fault of another driver, which flies in the face of Volvo and Google who have both explicitly stated that they will accept responsibility for such accidents in their driverless vehicles.

After all, cars that can safely drive themselves under all conditions wouldn’t rely on drivers who may be drowsy, distracted, buzzed – or unable to drive due to their age or a disability.

The cars use sensors – including radar, lasers and cameras – and onboard computers to drive.

Eleven companies already have permission to test on California’s public roads, with Ford the latest addition. Silicon Valley giant Google has pushed hardest, already building a prototype without a steering wheel or pedals but rigging the hardware back into the cars pending the long-anticipated regulations.

“Data collected throughout the permit term will provide an opportunity to evaluate the safety and real-world performance of autonomous vehicles and inform subsequent regulatory actions by the department”, the draft reads.

“The primary focus of the deployment regulations is the safety of autonomous vehicles and the safety of the public who will share the road with these vehicles”, DMV director Jean Shiomoto said in a statement.

Meanwhile, a consumer group applauded the draft rules as appropriately cautious.

Google said that their highest priority is the safety of their customer.

Associated Press writer Paul J. Weber contributed from Austin, Texas.