Extract from Traffic Technology Today....
Nevada approves regulations for self-driving cars
Nevada has become the first state in the USA to approve regulations that
outline the requirements for companies to test driverless cars on its roads.
Companies that want to conduct testing in the state will need to place a
bond of between US$1 million and US$3 million, depending on the number of
cars they plan to test. Firms must also lay out their specific intentions,
such as testing a vehicle on urban roadways, or its ability to operate in
the fog, rain or snow, and provide testing data to the state. The rules
stipulate that the cars must have two people in them at all times, with one
able to take control. The new regulations also require companies to detail
license requirements for people to operate them when they become available.
Google has been testing its autonomous car in the state since July 2011.
The new rules also require that all cars must be equipped with separate data
collectors, which will, "capture and store the autonomous technology sensor
data for at least 30 seconds before a collision." The regulations go beyond
testing procedures, anticipating the day when driverless cars become a
reality on highways. One provision states that if a vehicle is certified as
capable of being driven in autonomous mode without a driver, a person can
operate the vehicle "without being physically present." The regulations hold
the operator responsible, regardless of whether the person is physically
present in the autonomous vehicle. The only exception for operators under
existing traffic laws is texting or talking on a hand-held cellphone. A law
passed by legislators last year to ban texting while driving included a
specific exemption for operators of self-driving cars on autopilot.
20 February 2012
Guy R Day
[demime 1.01d removed an attachment of type image/jpeg which had a name of
Google-robotic-car-300.jpg]
------------------------
spridgets@autox.team.net
Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
Suggested annual donation: $12.75
Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
Forums: http://www.team.net/forums
|