California considers banning self-driving cars

California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has announced that it is considering an outright ban on what it describes as “driverless” cars on its roads.

Instead of targeting semi-autonomous vehicles, like the Tesla Model S and Model X SUV, the proposed US regulation is said to go a step further and target vehicles that require no human in charge.

Under the proposals that the Californian DMV is considering is a rule that any vehicle with autonomous technology must have a steering wheel and pedals for it to be legal to drive on the State’s public roads. A licenced driver behind the wheel would also be mandatory. Adding more red tape is said driver would need to be issued with what the DMV is calling an “autonomous vehicle operator certificate”.

The US state says it is taking the steps to restrict autonomous vehicle use on its highways over safety concerns of both the autonomous vehicles and the safety of the public.

If approved for legislation, the new DMV rules would mean that Google, Apple, BMW, Ford, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Tesla and VW would have to cease its testing within the Californian State and look further afield to develop its fully autonomous technology.

Issuing a statement shortly after the Californian DMV revealed its plans to curb the technology’s use, Google said:”We’re gravely disappointed that California is already writing a ceiling on the potential for fully self-driving cars to help all of us who live here.

“Safety is our highest priority and primary motivator as we do this”.

It’s not the first time the state has weighed into the, increasingly controversial, self-driving tech. In 2012 the DMV issued ruling that required car-makers testing experimental autonomous vehicles to always have a trained operator and that all vehicles must have a steering wheel when operated on public roads.

The motivation behind requiring a human operator on board at all times is thought to be driven by a fear of companyies like Apple introducing driverless taxis, or autonomous car-sharing schemes.

The DMV’s proposals also include legislation that any autonomous vehicle offered for sale would need to be tested and certified by a third-party auditor.

The Californian DMV has invited public consultation from January 28 until February 2, before it presses ahead with introducing the new rules and regulations.