http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/09/01/california-one-step-closer-to-self-
driving-cars/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A
+TheRawStory+%28The+Raw+Story%29
[Zeppnote: It's a long drive from Redding to Bakersfield, and pretty
boring. Bring a good book and lots of booze. After all, you're driving]
The California state legislature passed a bill Friday that could
eventually help self-driving cars become a reality on the state’s
highways.
According to WebProNews, the bill, which has yet to be signed by Governor
Jerry Brown, would require the California Highway Patrol to adopt safety
and performance standards for “autonomous vehicles,” in what the bill’s
sponsor, state senator Alex Padilla (D), described as an effort to make
the roads safer.
“The vast majority of vehicle accidents are due to human error,” Padilla
said when he introduced the bill in March. “Through the use of computers,
sensors and other systems, an autonomous vehicle is capable of analyzing
the driving environment more quickly and operating the vehicle more
safely. Autonomous vehicles have the potential to significantly reduce
traffic fatalities and improve safety on our roads and highways.”
The Huffington Post reported that earlier this week, Google announced
that their own fleet of self-driving cars had logged 300,000 total
combined miles. The company had also offered test-drives to a number of
state lawmakers.
“I have to say that there are some still issues with it,” said state
Senator Alan Lowenthal (D). “But it’s a better driver than I am.”
This past June, Nevada passed a bill allowing its state Department of
Transportation to develop regulations for driverless cars. And four other
states – Arizona, Florida, Hawaii and Oklahoma – are reportedly
considering similar bills.
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Not dead, in jail or a slave? Thank a liberal!