The state of Nevada has become the first in the USA to licence the use of driverless cars.
Though car technology has advanced apace in recent years with the advent of automatic braking and cars which park themselves, they have so far fallen short of actually being driven themselves. However, Google has come up with a new system of cruise control which uses video cameras, lasers and radar sensors to eradicate the need for a driver.
The title, driverless car is however not strictly true. Two people have to be in the car at all times in case of an emergency, but, as a computer would be responsible for all the car’s controls, in theory the people in the car would not need to keep their eyes on the road and could relax and enjoy the ride.
As expected, the car has been extensively tested in the USA, in California in particular with over 140,000 miles having been driven without any accidents having been caused. As to whether they will ever be allowed onto British roads, the jury is very much out. The Parliamentary Council for Transport Safety says that it can’t foresee a time when drivers would not be required to be in charge of their vehicle at all times. It says that while drivers can be assisted by new technology they cannot be replaced.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/9252657/D...
