Why That Matters: The recent series of collisions with autonomous vehicles may have shaken public confidence in autonomous vehicles, but California will continue with two new autonomous vehicle pilot programs. These programs will allow businesses to use their autonomous cars to pick up passengers for free rides, provided they meet the strict requirements of the DMV.
Public confidence in autonomous vehicles has been shaken lately after many autonomous vehicle accidents, but these fears now seem to be subsiding.
In a press release issued today, the California Public Utilities Board (CPUC) announced its decision to let companies use their autonomous vehicle fleets to provide rides to citizens of the United States. State.
The CPUC makes this possible through two "pilot programs", the first of which will allow companies to take passengers using autonomous vehicles provided that there is a "trained driver" in the vehicle.
The second program will usually be the same, but it completely eliminates the driver of the equation. Therefore, the rules of these programs are a little stricter. For example, companies will need to use remote monitoring software to ensure that the vehicle and its passengers are safe at all times.
"I am pleased to launch these pilot programs as part of the evolving California passenger transportation system," said CPUC Commissioner Liane M. Randolph in a statement. "Our state is home to world-class innovative companies and I hope these services will be delivered with the high level of security we expect from our passenger service providers."
According to what the CPUC has said up to now, it seems that neither one nor the other program allows companies to charge their customers for rides; everything must be completely free for the moment.
This stipulation should not, however, be a major obstacle for technology companies. The data they will inevitably obtain through these pilot programs will likely offset the costs they may incur by offering free rides.
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