LANSING, Mich. – Right now, Michigan law requires self-driving cars to contain a human back-up driver to take over in the case of an emergency. However, those rules could soon change.
Bills approaching the Michigan Legislature would allow self-driving to be tested on public roads without a driver under certain conditions.
The bill is expected to be approved by the Senate on Wednesday, and could likely reach Governor Snyder’s desk in a few months.
The legislation is designed to keep the U.S. auto industry’s home state ahead of the curve on autonomous vehicles.
A researcher wouldn’t have to be present in a self-driving test car. But he or she would be required to “promptly” take control of its movements if necessary.
The bills also would authorize the public operation of driverless cars and tight “platoons” of commercial trucks to travel in unison at electronically coordinated speeds.
