Driverless cars not to be tested on Vancouver streets, says province

The City of Vancouver is beginning to look at the potential impact of driverless cars, but the B.C. government says its plans can't include actually putting them on the road.

Coun. Geoff Meggssays he has asked city staff to examine the issue.He claims75 per centof cars onthe road could be driverless by 2040, and understanding how they operate on Vancouver streets is crucial.

"It would be great to see the province step forward in a more comprehensive way because I think all themunicipalities willbe askingquestions about it," he said.

Meggssays no plans have actually been made to test the cars in Vancouver,but he points outjurisdictionsin Europe are alreadydoing so.

The B.C. government agrees driverless cars could appearacross the province, and it's keeping a close watch on the issue.

However, Transportation MinisterTodd StonesaysB.C. has no plans to launch any pilots, and he warns that cities don't have free reign to test the cars out.

"I don't believe the City of Vancouver has regulatory authority over theoperation of motor vehicles, that's a provincial authority, and safety standards is a federal role," Stone said.

FederalTransport Minister Marc Garneaurecently asked the Senate's transportation and communications committee to launch a study of the regulatory, policy and technical issues that need to be addressed so that Canada can safely and smoothly make the transition to self-driving vehicles.