Self-driving cars have been under continued scrutiny lately, especially since they’ve distracted drivers who weren’t paying attention and they’ve been involved in fatal accidents.
But California is moving ahead by trying to propel autonomous vehicles forward.
As noted by CNet, California has announced two pilot programs that will allow transportation companies to let the public experience self-driving vehicles.
One of the pilot programs allows companies to use driverless cars to shuttle around passengers, but those companies are not allowed to charge the riders for the lift. In the other program, the California DMV requires the cars to be monitored remotely and they are not allowed to operate to or from the airport (passengers also can’t be charged in this program).
According to CNet, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) “is currently working on permanent regulations that allow autonomous passenger service, and a final proposal is expected to be ready in the first quarter of 2019.”
Said ride-sharing company Lyft in a previous statement: “We appreciate the CPUC addressing this important topic and allowing the public to begin experiencing the benefits of autonomous vehicles.”