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March 1, 2012 By Sarah Rich
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A newly introduced bill would authorize the California Highway Patrol to develop regulations for safely testing and operating driverless vehicles within the state.
State Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Pacoima, introduced the legislation Thursday, March 1, at a press conference on the steps of the state Capitol. Padilla was driven to the event by one of Google’s autonomous vehicles, a Toyota Prius hybrid equipped with a variety of sensors, cameras, radar, computers and other technology that allows the car to drive itself.
Currently California neither prohibits nor regulates the use of autonomous vehicles on public roads. Google and other companies already are testing in California. If passed, Padilla’s bill, SB 1298, would help fill in this regulatory gray area. SB 1298 also encourages current and future development, testing and operation of autonomous vehicles.
Photo: Google Product Manager Anthony Levandowski (left) and California Sen. Alex Padilla (right) introduce a new bill that would establish regulations for testing and operating driverless vehicles in the state. Photo by Sarah Rich.
“I imagine a lot of people think a self-driving car as science fiction or something out of the Jetsons, but this may not be something that happens for a long time,” Padilla said at the press conference. “But we’re living in an era of Moore’s Law, where every two years we double our computer processing speeds. And what it’s done is it’s allowed us to demonstrate exponential improvements to the areas of advanced technology, including the ability to use technology to make self-driving cars a reality sooner rather than later.”
Google has logged more than 200,000 miles of driverless vehicle testing on the state’s roads, according to company data. The company has driven a driverless vehicle from San Francisco south to Los Angeles, and over all the bridges in the San Francisco Bay Area, Google Product Manager Anthony Levandowski said at Thursday’s press conference.
Google isn’t the only company building autonomous technology — auto manufacturers like BMW, Audi and Volvo are a few others that have invested in similar research, Padilla said. Google is encouraging auto manufacturers to bring the autonomous technology to California and the rest of the nation.
“I’m really excited about seeing Sen. Padilla’s work on bringing and building a framework for testing and helping enable the groundwork for consumers to have access to this wonderful, new technology,” Levandowski said.
Padilla hopes vehicles like Google’s will be on the road in the near future, despite some observers won’t be publicly available until 2020. Padilla said with interest and investment the vehicles could be rolled out sooner. Google has not yet established what the price of one of its driverless vehicles would be on the open market.
Padilla said laws have been “very reactive to technology over the course of history,” so it’s important for California to keep up with the advancing technology.
Nevada officials claimed the state was the first in the nation to develop regulations regarding autonomous vehicle technology. The state passed a law in July that required the state’s DMV to develop regulations for the use of autonomous vehicles on public roads. Last month the Nevada Legislative Commission of the DMV announced it had approved those regulations. On Thursday, March 1, an application package was made available for companies interested in applying to test autonomous vehicles in Nevada, according to DMV Director Bruce Breslow.
“We see autonomous technology as the future of the automobile,” Breslow told Government Technology last month. “Certainly, within two to five years, there will be autonomous, self-driving cars sold to people in our country. And we look at it as a safety system to avoid crashes, to avoid deaths.”
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It will be interesting to see if there is an overide put in the vehicle to allow a person to take driving control of the vehicle. If not, the vehicles most likely won't sell that well since consumers wish to be able to control the driving.
Anybody done a Google search on the Google product manager? I know where he studied software but not sure he ever took any physics courses. Smells like a charlatan to me.
One question: Why? I mean seriously, what market segment are they trying to reach here? The only benefit I see is for handicap drivers, which is good. But why encourage research and production, it doesn't solve any problems?
Ohh nevermind. It's California, I get it now.
For someone that cannot see, it is a remarkable invention, and should not be tossed out lightly. Trouble is, the American car is such an overrated tool in the US. What happened to public transportation?
I agree it would be great for as Optimist says for someone who can't see. I'm seeing other stories though that would require the driver to still be capable of controlling the car if needed. If that's going to be the case then only lazy people will benefit. Hopefully they do find a practical use for this amazing technology.
The Cynic & The Optimist. I can see the morning show now.
I've been a lot of places and I can tell the Optimist that public transportation in the Phoenix AZ area sucks. Besides that, we almost had, yet again, another bus strike. If it does ever happen we all have to use our cars, unless you don't have one. Years ago my grandfather, one late night after drinking, got on his horse, slumped over, and let it take him home. On the way home, Mr. Officer pulled him over and gave him a DUI. My grandmother is no longer fit to drive, lives in an assisted-living facility, but can still go out. Their bus will take them to restaurants for lunch, but you have to signup early and hope they are going to a place you like. It will be interesting to see what kind of laws are created for the use of these autonomous vehicles. Can I get home after a night of drinking without a DUI? When I'm too old to operate a vehicle, can I still have my freedom? Will this make retirement communities like AZ's Sun City safer to drive in? (My friend that lives in that area nearly had 3 accidents in a week due to the elderly that live there [mostly snowbirds]) With a bright future and dim politicians, we drive forward.
As someone that lives in DC (grew up in PG County, MD), works in Arlington, VA and frequently shops in Montgomery County, MD & Arlington) would posit that the problem/s of public transportation are: * Gets you only so far .... e.g., nearest stop is 4 miles away. * Doesn't go where you want when you want (if *even* available: PG much worse than the other listed jurisdictions for public transportation availability!) * Takes three-four buses/trains to get there Yes, car-less by choice but aware of what this choice means: frequently do not go to specific event/s because even if there is transportation there, the return trip doesn't exist.
Scotty, I read in the article about the autonomous cars in Nevada that you won't be able to use if you can't operate the vehicle, DUI was mentioned. That's a great point also about the elderly that can no longer see as well. That also brings up the question, what about younger drivers? Can I send my middle schooler to school in an autonomous car, that would be great.
how can such a widely accepted and desired mode of transportation be "over-rated"? Our society lives and breathes for greater efficiencies, ease of use, and conveniences, and public transporation can never achieve these.
public transit only works where it is available...I would gladly take it to work, 30 miles away, except there is only one road and maybe 100 cars a day this time of year...and no bus/train/commuter service... aw well...