California Proposes Rules For Driverless Vehicles
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California’s newly released draft regulations are a mixed bag for tech firms and carmakers. They, for the first time, set out state rules for deploying driverless cars with no humans on board ready to take over. Many top companies promoting driverless technology, including Google and Uber, are based in California and had been pushing hard for that.
At the same time, California proposed that manufacturers "must obtain an ordinance or resolution from local authorities" laying out circumstances under which the cars can be tested on local streets. That raises the specter of a whole new layer of government involvement, and with it the potential for messy and prolonged community struggles.
Last month, the Obama administration released federal guidance that was bullish on the projected safety benefits of self-driving cars. It outlines a 15-point safety assessment for companies to follow. It also sought to keep federal control over vehicle safety regulations, including for driverless cars, saying there should not be 50 individual state safety standards. States should focus instead on more traditional functions such as licensing drivers, the federal guidance said.
California embraced the idea of the 15-point assessment and said it had worked closely with federal regulators as it shaped its guidelines. What balance California ultimately strikes on the proper state role will depend on reaction to the draft regulations, including in upcoming public comment sessions, before officials push ahead with formal rules. The state DMV did not immediately answer questions on the possible impacts of the proposals.
At the same time, California proposed that manufacturers "must obtain an ordinance or resolution from local authorities" laying out circumstances under which the cars can be tested on local streets. That raises the specter of a whole new layer of government involvement, and with it the potential for messy and prolonged community struggles.
Last month, the Obama administration released federal guidance that was bullish on the projected safety benefits of self-driving cars. It outlines a 15-point safety assessment for companies to follow. It also sought to keep federal control over vehicle safety regulations, including for driverless cars, saying there should not be 50 individual state safety standards. States should focus instead on more traditional functions such as licensing drivers, the federal guidance said.
California embraced the idea of the 15-point assessment and said it had worked closely with federal regulators as it shaped its guidelines. What balance California ultimately strikes on the proper state role will depend on reaction to the draft regulations, including in upcoming public comment sessions, before officials push ahead with formal rules. The state DMV did not immediately answer questions on the possible impacts of the proposals.
