In an effort to remain the center of U.S. automotive development, Michigan has passed the most comprehensive self-driving vehicle regulations in the country:
Michigan, in a race with Silicon Valley for supremacy in autonomous autos, today enacted legislation that it said is the first in the U.S. to establish comprehensive regulations for testing, use and eventual sale of self-driving cars.
Governor Rick Snyder signed a law that defines how self-driving cars can be used on public roads in testing and commercial deployment, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. said in a statement. The law allows public road testing of vehicles without steering wheels, gas or brake pedals or any need for human control. It lets auto and tech companies operate driverless ride-sharing services and also lays out rules for how self-driving cars can be sold to the public once the technology has been tested and certified. "Michigan is the global center for automotive technology and development," Snyder said in the statement. "By establishing guidelines and standards for self-driving vehicles, we're continuing that tradition."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 11 2016, @03:47PM
I'd like to see a substantial tax enacted on transport of human beings by autonomous vehicles of any kind (automotive, planes, trains, boats); this would apply to private as well as commercial trips.
Let's say 50 cents per passenger-mile, or $5 per mile for cargo transport. It could be enacted and collected either at the Federal or state level. Some reasonable exceptions (e.g. emergency trips) could be carved out.
Human beings need regular practice piloting their transport systems; that's part of who we are. Yes, humans are imperfect and are prone to accidents, probably more than we'd have with drones after they've been perfected, but that's part of the maturity process of being an adult member of society. Adults can't just sit in the back seat playing with your electronic gear all day.
That's why.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday December 11 2016, @04:34PM
Humans didn't evolve to drive cars, and until recently, there were many functioning adults that hadn't touched a horse-driven wagon, carriage, or automobile. Driving does not mean maturity and your tax proposal will never fly. We will however play with iPads and fuck in the back seat all day long. You won't deny us our utopia.
(Score: 1) by anubi on Monday December 12 2016, @06:19AM
I disagree, responding with comment.
This to me is almost like people with their business models centered around horses going after automakers the same way.
My main concern about autonomous drivers is the same with javascript: they will lobby our Government to have their stuff held harmless because a machine is involved.
I am still quite pissed about our Government granting the protection of the DMCA while not demanding accountability for what the protected stuff does in return.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]