Category Archives: self driving cars

New Kid on the block: Self Driving Car Coalition

What companies are members of the new self-driving car coalition? Alphabet Inc.’s Google, Ford Motor Co. and Uber Technologies Inc.,

What is the goals of the coalition?

  • advocate for safety regulations for self-driving cars
  • bring self driving cars to American roads

What are their arguments supporting self driving cars?

  • Self driving cars will prevent accidents
  • Self driving cars will save lives by preventing accidents
  • Self driving cars will reduce road congestion

Fuel Fix | Coalition…

Trend: Self Driving Cars & Legal Liability. 2 Paths.

Will accidents involving self driving cars make the car company liable for the accident? 2 Liability Paths:

  • A google car and a bus collided. In response, Google said it had some liability.
  • Some attorneys say they will be treated like accidents are treated now, because car systems can fail and it leaves the person in the car liable for damage caused.

National Law Review | Foley & Lardner LLP | Liability & Autonomous Vehicles

 

 

Trending. Issue on Horizon for Texas: Self Driving Cars Meets Data Security.

Data security of self-driving cars spurs calls for uniform data security standards for self-driving cars.

Have there been a push for self driving car regulations or statutes in Texas ? Yes, why yes, there has. 84R HB 933

Did those pushes include data security issues? No.

The Hill | Lawmakers worry about cyberattacks on self-driving cars

 

3 Ways Self-Driving Cars Spark Road Improvements. Local Governments & States Unite.

In preparing for the machines to rule the earth, or for the lass dramatic self-driving cars, states and cities are upgrading roads.

Here’s the list of improvements made for driverless cars:

  • better road markings
  • upgraded traffic technology to communicate with connected cars
    • e.g. how long should a left turn arrow last?
  • smart phone apps to gather and report information about congestion and road conditions and foreseeably notify drivers of alerts

Governing | In Preparation for Driverless…

Regulatory Trend: INTERIM. Self Driving Cars. Computer is the Driver.

In response to a proposal from google, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that the driver of a self driving car is the car’s computer.

The machines are taking over the world. 3 Keys from the federal regulators that will matter in Texas:

  • States and the feds are tackling laws and rule making. The ruling for google is limited to its application.
  • Google’s home state, California, has a propsoed rules that require a human driver in the vehicle.
  • The level of human…

INTERIM Trend: Self Driving Car Regulation. 1 State Started Regulation and Statutes in 2012. Everything you need to Know.

California Department of Motor Vehicles has been wokring on rules for self driving cars since 2012. Here’s everything you need to know to be informed:

  • California DMV has a self driving car manufacturer & testing website 
  • California is in the public input portion of rule making, on schedule to beat the feds on rules
  • What did California do by statute? defintions and rule making. The defintions:
    • “Autonomous technology” means technology that has the capability to drive a vehicle without the…

INTERIM Self Driving Cars Want Federal Action. Too Many Pesky States. 5 Quick Points.

Which group is pushing Congress to act over the states? Consumer Technology Association

Why should Congress resgulate self driving cars and not states? “transportation is a national issue”

Even without Congressional action federal regulators will tell the states what to do with new guidelines. Transportation Department & its National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will create guidelines for state policymakers to draw on when regulating self-driving cars.

What’s the…

INTERIM Self Driving Cars Get $4 billion in Testing Funds. 3 Points to Be Informed.

  • Transportation Secretary  Anthony Foxx made the announcement with Google and auto manufacturers General Motors, Ford Motor Co., Volvo, Fiat Chrysler and Honda
  • $4 billion pledged by the federal government to fund research and testing projects
  • The supportive goals relied on by the Secretary:
    • improve the U.S .transportation system
    • improve vehicle-to-vehicle communications technology
    • safety via obstacle and accident avoidance
    • 75% of the country lives in 11 mega regions, that means…

INTERIM Lege Trend: 4 Legislative Fixes to Build $1 Billion Manufacturing Facility for Electric Cars. 1 State; 2 Billion Electric Car Manufacturing Facilities.

What special session? the 29th Special Session of the Nevada State Legislature

What’s the issue before the Legislature? Faraday Future wants to builda  $1 Billion manufacturing facility for electric cars north of Las Vegas.

  • NV legislators will consider $ 215 million dollars in tax breaks to the company over 15 years
  •  Amend laws to allow local government agencies to waive licenses or permits
  • Amend laws  to allow financing for water, rail and natural gas improvements
  • Revise and…