Watch Out! Self-Driving Cars Approved in Nevada
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Nevada's Governor Brian Sandoval gets out of Google's self-driving car Sandra Chereb/AP Photo
Google’s self-driving car has been demoed a number of times over the past few years — “Good Morning America” even took it for a spin in 2010. But the pedal’s about to be really put to the metal in Nevada.
Nevada’s Legislative Commission has approved regulations that would allow self-driving vehicles on the state’s roadways.
“Nevada is the first state to embrace what is surely the future of automobiles,” the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles Director Bruce Breslow said in a statement on the DMV’s website.
“These regulations establish requirements companies must meet to test their vehicles on Nevada’s public roadways as well as requirements for residents to legally operate them in the future,” said Breslow.
But the state is going even further: It is developing “licensing procedures” for companies to test their self-driving cars. Google has already signed on to test-drive its self-driving Toyota Priuses. (Google was behind the legislation lobbying effort.) Car manufacturers such as BMW and Audi are working on similar vehicles.
Drivers will be able to distinguish self-driving test vehicles by their red license plates. When the robotic cars actually make it to market, they will have green license plates.
That, however, is a ways out. Breslow told the Associated Press that these cars aren’t ready for market yet, and Google’s version is still in the prototype phase.
General Motors has predicted the technology will be standard by 2020, which means it will probably be awhile before lots of cars with green license plates are seen zooming around the Silver State.
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yeap, way to make human more stupid, and machine more complicate.
Posted by: joe | February 17, 2012, 9:17 pm 9:17 pm
An impressive technological achievement, although I’d never want some machine to make be a bystander (or bysitter) in my own vehicle. And I’d bet that the cars probably drive better than many of the Californians that cross the border, espcially in the winter months.
Posted by: MyTake | February 17, 2012, 11:12 pm 11:12 pm
give me one!
Ten times safer, no tickets (and hence not dealing with the police), and an extra hour a day to do whatever the hell I want.
Oh yes, and with a van or rv, an instant way to make long trips palatable – let me sleep (and drive) all night, and sightsee during the day..
Posted by: Ed | February 18, 2012, 11:48 am 11:48 am
@ Joe – Humans have had no problem making themselves stupider and I see nothing in a self-driving car that makes them any stupider. It isn’t as though being able to drive a car is a mark of intelligence. Maybe while the car is doing the driving the passenger can pull out a book. Although I suspect that most are more likely to be decreasing their IQ by watching some mindless reality show or sports.
Posted by: glacia | February 18, 2012, 11:50 am 11:50 am
The end of the DUI! Woooooohooooooo!
Posted by: Effjay | February 18, 2012, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm
I hope it is not running on Windows operating systems otherwise you will have to reboot the car at traffic light……………..hehe!!!!!
Posted by: bitsnbytes | February 19, 2012, 7:47 am 7:47 am
congradulations, finally some success.
Posted by: Economystic Extraordinaire | February 19, 2012, 10:08 am 10:08 am
It is not often you hear someone say, “I am a bad driver.” Most folks think they are NASCAR ready. These automated vehicles are very misleading. POWER BRAKES, and Steering was one thing. ABS systems were borderline. Now self driving cars that make the driver feel safe and secure? NO!!! this is bad. People need to have a sense of danger to remain responsible. You take that away and they will create more trouble than ever before. I am against SILICON DRIVING.
Posted by: Todd-Debt-Free | February 19, 2012, 11:06 am 11:06 am
you can say it makes em stupider but then again won’t it keep they jack wagon who is to busy texting then paying attention to wtf he is doing from running a red light and broadsiding you from personal exp it sucks def when they have no insurance
Posted by: john | February 20, 2012, 5:10 am 5:10 am
This is great. Eventually we will have a road system that eliminates car accidents and reckless driving. This is the first step and as soon as we develop a safe system and it has been thoroughly tested, it will be legally approved and even funded by the states and/or government. People will always fear new technology a little bit but that’s what makes us continue to improve on them. Just like the cars we drive today; new safety features will always be added.
Posted by: redgirl | February 20, 2012, 12:15 pm 12:15 pm