DMV

The California Department of Motor Vehicles has just issued draft rules covering the public use of self-driving robot cars that incorporate a key safety provision long advocated by Consumer Watchdog, sponsor of this website. The draft regulations require robot cars to have a steering wheel and pedals and be occupied by a licensed driver capable of taking control of the vehicle when necessary.

Self-driving car companies need to be more open with California about what they are doing, admitted a top California Department of Motor Vehicles official last week when describing the DMV’s struggle to craft regulations covering the deployment of robot cars on California’s highways.

One of the biggest complaints people have about the Department of Motor Vehicles is how long you have to wait to get anything done. We’ve been waiting eight months on this DMV issue, but we are glad that’s the case this time.