Empty Cars/Taxis With No Steering Wheel

Cars with no steering wheel, no pedals and nobody at all inside could be driving themselves on California roads by the end of the year.

This will happen under proposed new US State rules that would give a powerful boost to the fast-developing technology.

For the past several years, tech companies and automakers have been testing self-driving cars on the open road in California. But regulators insisted that those vehicles have steering wheels, foot controls and human backup drivers who could take over in an emergency.

Recently, the State Department of motor vehicles proposed regulations that would open the way for truly driverless cars.

Under the rules, road-testing of such vehicles could begin by the end of 2017, and a limited number could become available to customers as early as 2018, provided the federal government gives the necessary permission.

Currently, federal automobile standards require steering wheels, though Washington has shown a desire to encourage self-driving technology.

While a few other states have permitted such testing, this is a major step forward for the industry, given California’s size as the most populous state, its clout as the nation’s biggest car market and its longtime role as a cultural trendsetter.

The proposed regulations also amount to the most detailed regulatory framework of any state. “California has taken a big step. This is exciting,” said Bryant Walker Smith, a law professor at the University of South Carolina who tracks government policy on self-driving cars.

The rules are subject to a public hearing and a comment period and could change. Regulators hope to put them in effect by December.

The proposal is more than two years overdue, reflecting complex questions of safety and highly advanced technology.

“We don’t want to race to meet a deadline,” said Bernard Soriano, a leader of the motor vehicle agency’s self-driving program. “We want to get this right.”

In one important change from prior drafts, once a manufacturer declares its technology is road-ready, it can put its cars on the market. That self-certification approach mirrors how federal officials regulate standard cars, and represents a big victory for such major players as Waymo, Google’s self-driving car project.

Also under the proposed regulations, any driverless car still must be remotely monitored and able to pull itself over safely in an emergency.

There is CSI analysis that suggests that most taxi drivers will be out of work within the next decade or so.

The chief skeptic of the technology, California-based Consumer Watchdog, said the proposal does not protect the public. “The new rules are too industry-friendly,” Consumer Watchdog’s John Simpson said in a statement.

The technology is developing quickly. More than a year ago, a Waymo prototype with no steering wheel or pedals drove a blind man on city streets in Texas.

Supporters say the cars may one day be far safer than those with humans at the wheel, since the machinery won’t drive distracted, drunk or drowsy.

During road testing in California, self-driving cars with human backup drivers are believed to have caused just a few collisions.

A year ago, Waymo reported that during the 424,331 miles its cars had driven themselves, a human driver intervened 11 times to avoid a collision. In an update earlier this year, Waymo said its fleet had driven 636,868 miles in autonomous mode; it did not say how many crashes were avoided.

In all, 27 companies have department of motor vehicles permits to test on California roads.

Waymo was able to legally put its prototype on the road in Texas because state law there does not prohibit a fully driverless car. Other states have explicitly invited the technology on to their roads, including Michigan, whose governor signed a bill in December that allows the public testing of cars with no driver.

In the meantime, the industry has been lobbying the US transportation department and Congress for rule changes that could speed the introduction of truly driverless cars.

The Guardian

« US Defense Intelligence Agency Upgrades Cybersecurity
Now China Tells US To Stop Spying »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

Alvacomm

Alvacomm

Alvacomm offers holistic VIP cybersecurity services, providing comprehensive protection against cyber threats. Our solutions include risk assessment, threat detection, incident response.

Practice Labs

Practice Labs

Practice Labs is an IT competency hub, where live-lab environments give access to real equipment for hands-on practice of essential cybersecurity skills.

Jooble

Jooble

Jooble is a job search aggregator operating in 71 countries worldwide. We simplify the job search process by displaying active job ads from major job boards and career sites across the internet.

Jones Day

Jones Day

Jones Day is an international law firm based in the United States. Practice areas include Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection.

Cyber Together

Cyber Together

Cyber Together is dedicated to advancing the cyber security industry by giving businesses access to Israel’s leaders, innovators and great minds in the field of cyber security.

OpenSphere

OpenSphere

OpenSphere is an IT company providing security consultancy, information system risk management and security management services.

D3 Security

D3 Security

D3's Smart SOAR platform is at the forefront of the security automation revolution, helping clients around the world to rapidly identify, analyze, and resolve advanced threats.

Jiran Security

Jiran Security

Jiran Security provides data and application security solution over email, mobile device and endpoints.

Online Business Systems

Online Business Systems

Online Business Systems is an information technology and business consultancy. We design improved business processes enabled with robust and secure information systems.

NSEIT

NSEIT

NSEIT offers end-to-end Information Technology products, solutions and services including cybersecurity to organizations in the financial sector.

MedCrypt

MedCrypt

MedCrypt are a team of medical device experts focused on bringing modern cybersecurity features to the next generation of healthcare technology.

IAR Systems

IAR Systems

IAR Systems are a frontrunner in a changing industry, and a future-proof software supplier enabling the IoT.

Cybriant

Cybriant

Cybriant Strategic Security Services provide a framework for architecting, constructing, and maintaining a secure business with policy and performance alignment.

Outseer

Outseer

Outseer is a leading technology company in the fight against payments fraud. Outseer reliably determines authentic customers from fraudulent behavior.

AutoSec

AutoSec

AutoSec supports the FFI program Electronics, Software and Communication by dissemination and exploitation of the results of projects related to automotive cybersecurity.

CryptoDATA

CryptoDATA

CryptoDATA develops products and services based on Blockchain technology, that ensure user security and data encryption, applicable in various fields.

BitLyft

BitLyft

BitLyft is a managed detection and response provider that is dedicated to delivering unparalleled protection from cyber attacks for organizations of all sizes.

Semgrep

Semgrep

Semgrep is a fast, open-source, static analysis tool for profoundly improving software security and reliability.

Trustack

Trustack

Trustack services cover connectivity, infrastructure services, security, unified comms, agile working and more. Our team of consultants deliver customised solutions tailored to your needs.

Texaport

Texaport

Texaport's vision is to be the trusted partner of choice for organisations seeking comprehensive IT management and cutting-edge security solutions.

Quotient

Quotient

Quotient builds digital experiences that empower and inspire the American people by understanding their needs, simplifying complex technical solutions and adapting to how they work, live and learn.