Nevada Passes Self-Driving Car Regulations

The state of Nevada this week became the first to approve regulations that dictate requirements for companies to begin testing driverless cars on Nevada roadways. Similar regulations are currently being considered in Hawaii and Florida, even though automakers are nowhere near introducing a driverless car onto the market.

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval had the privilege of taking a test drive in a self-driving Toyota Prius in July. The car, under development by Google, uses radar, sensors and computers to get around by autopilot, though a human driver can always override the autopilot and take control of the vehicle himself. Under the new regulations, companies looking to test self-driven vehicles in Nevada will need to secure a bond of $1 billion to $3 billion, depending on how many cars they wish to test.

Companies must also inform authorities of their specific intentions when they conduct tests, whether it be to test vehicles’ ability to operate in different weather conditions, basic navigation of city streets, or whatever specific data the companies hope to gain from a specific test. The companies will also be required to submit the results of the tests to state officials. The cars being tested must have two people in them at all times, with one having the ability to take control of the vehicle.