Computerized, driverless cars are now recognized as drivers by the NHTSA.
First drones, now driverless cars. These once seemingly futuristic technologies are no longer ideas. They are actually in use today! Google, along with automakers such as Nissan, Mercedes-Benz and Delphi Automotive has been experimenting with driverless vehicles. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has approved Google's request to consider their self-driving system as the driver of a vehicle in a letter posted on the agency's website.
This decision is unprecedented. For the first time in automotive history, something other than a human is considered a driver. While there are still major strides to implement the technology into common practice, this is a step forward. Federal guidelines are in the works to develop operations rules and model state policies. They may be released as early as July of 2016.
Google's self-driving cars are designed without a steering wheel or brake pedals. The company believes that installing such features would impede the safety of the vehicle as a human override of the system could be dangerous. However, the NHTSA has said that these technologies must comply with standards required for human driven cars. The NHTSA must work on a system for compliance.
The new technology, however, doesn't come without controversy. The Department of Motor Vehicles says that they require that these vehicles have a steering wheel and a human driver so that in the event that the technology fails, someone can step in. Additionally, the consumer review company, Consumer Watchdogs says that these computer systems shouldn't be considered drivers. According to the group, during the testing of these vehicles, there were numerous times in which a human driver needed to take the wheel. As of November of 2015, automakers had reported that there were circumstances in which a human driver needed to take over driving. In some instances, it was as often as every couple miles.
While this technology has unprecedented applications, more testing and regulation is needed. In the meantime, trust your mail deliveries to be without delay with
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