National self-driving car regulations needed, Google tells U.S. Congress

ChrisUrmson, director ofGoogle'sself-driving carsprogram, will tell the Senate Commerce Committee thatlegislators should grantnew authority to the U.S.Transportation Department to help get fully autonomous vehicleson the road,acccordingto his prepared testimony, which wasreviewed by Reuters.

"We propose that Congress move swiftly to provide thesecretary of transportation with new authority to approvelifesaving safety innovations. This new authority would permitthe deployment of innovative safety technologies that meet orexceed the level of safety required by existing federalstandards, while ensuring a prompt and transparent process,"according to the prepared testimony.

Disappointment in California

Majorautomakersand technology companies are racing todevelop and sell vehicles that can drive themselves, but havecomplained that state and federal safety rules are impedingtesting and ultimate deployment of such vehicles. California inDecember proposed draft rules that would bar autonomous vehicleswithout human controls and a licensed driver.

Googlewas disappointed by California's action. "If everystate is left to go its own way without a unified approach,operating self-driving cars across state boundaries would be anunworkable situation and one that will significantly hinder...the eventual deployment of autonomous vehicles,"Urmson'stestimony says.

Urmson'stestimony says many federal safety rules would notbe needed with fully autonomous vehicles, like a rear-viewmirror requirement.

In January, the U.S. National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration (NHTSA) said it may waive some vehicle safetyrules to allow more driverless cars to operate on U.S. roads aspart of a broader effort to speed up development of self-drivingvehicles.

NHTSAsaid Friday in a report there are significant legalhurdles to allowing fully autonomous vehicles without steeringwheels.NHTSA will write guidelines for self-driving cars within sixmonths, Transportation Secretary AnthonyFoxxsaid in January.

The agency last month said the artificial intelligence systempiloting a self-drivingGooglecar could be considered thedriver under federal law.

Googlewants to offer fully autonomous vehicles for use onU.S. roads "soon."