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U.S. Aims To Tame ‘Wild West’ Of Self-Driving Cars

September 20, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>SAN FRANCISCO - Self-driving car advocates and observers are reacting with cautious approval Tuesday to the <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2016/09/19/feds-unveil-plan-ensure-safety-self-driving-cars/90710362/">government's 112-page directive</a> on the transformational technology.</p>

Self-Driving Car Makers Don’t Sound Super Excited To Share Date With The Federal Government

September 20, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p id="y0hpTN">Today, the federal government <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2016/9/19/12981448/self-driving-car-guidelines-obama-foxx-dot-nhtsa">released major new guidelines for self-driving cars</a>. But for anyone waiting for the reaction of big companies like Google and Uber, don’t hold your breath. The chief lobbyist for those companies just convened a press call with reporters in which he said... well, not that much.</p>

Government Paves Way For Driverless Cars To Hit The Roads

September 20, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>To fast-track to a future where cars drive themselves, the freewheeling tech world and the historically buttoned-up auto industry joined forces to develop autonomous vehicles.</p> <p>But behind the rapid-fire innovation of the last few years, questions loomed over whether the federal government would welcome the complete overhaul of driving as we know it — or if it would put up regulatory roadblocks to slow the industry's efforts.</p>

Consumers’ group wants Uber to publicize self-driving tests

September 20, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<section class="entry-content" id="entry-content" itemprop="articleBody"> <p>Uber has started to <a href="http://readwrite.com/2016/08/19/uber-volvo-partnership-tl4/">integrate self-driving Volvo XC90 cars</a> into its Pittsburgh ride-hailing fleet this month, a noticeably large leap for a company that only started to work on autonomous cars last year.</p>

U.S. To Release Guidelines On Driverless Vehicles

September 19, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Any doubt that driverless cars, trucks and buses are on a fast track to join their human counterparts on the nation’s highways may be knocked aside Tuesday, when the Department of Transportation releases long-awaited guidelines for the development of autonomous cars.</p>

Self-Driving Cars Gain Powerful Ally: The Government

September 19, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="178" data-total-count="178">WASHINGTON — Federal auto safety regulators on Monday made it official: They are betting the nation’s highways will be safer with more cars driven by machines and not people.</p> <p class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="220" data-total-count="398">In long-awaited guidelines for the booming industry of automated vehicles, the Obama administration promised strong safety oversight, but sent a clear signal to automakers that the door was wide open for driverless cars.</p>

Hodgepodge Of Self-Driving Vehicle Laws Raises Safety Concerns

September 16, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>The free rides in self-driving cars that Uber began offering in Pittsburgh Wednesday wouldn’t be allowed in California.</p> <p>In Michigan, legislators are considering changing a law that requires a safety driver to be behind the wheel of self-driving vehicles to handle unexpected or emergency situations.</p> <p>A Chicago alderman wants to ban them completely.</p>

Uber Won’t Need Permit From PUC For Self-Driving Cars Until It Starts Charging

September 15, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p class="NormalParagraphStyle">Uber can continue to offer rides in its fleet of self-driving cars in Pittsburgh without further permits as long as the trips remain free, according to a statement Thursday from the Pennsylvania Utilities Commission.</p> <p class="NormalParagraphStyle">The ride-sharing giant started offering rides in its self-driving Ford Fusions on Wednesday. The rides are free “for now,” according to the email sent to users selected to participate in the pilot.</p>

Unethical Relationships Between Google, Government Alleged

September 14, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit consumer interests group, has urged President Obama and his administration to delay any regulation regarding autonomous vehicles. In a letter to the president, the consumer advocacy group claims newly discovered documents reveal an inappropriate relationship between Google and the feds.</p>

Tesla Contends With Another Fatal Model S Crash, Unsure If Autopilot Involved

September 14, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p>Tesla Motors, days after announcing upgrades to its semi-autonomous Autopilot driving system, confirmed that it’s reviewing an accident involving a Model S sedan in China that killed the son of the car’s owner early this year.</p>

For Some Safety Experts, Uber’s Self-Driving Taxi Test Isn’t Something To Hail

September 11, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p><span class="dateline">SAN FRANCISCO —</span> Uber’s decision to bring self-driving taxis to the streets of Pittsburgh this week is raising alarms among a swath of safety experts who say that the technology is not nearly ready for prime time.</p> <p>The unprecedented experiment will launch even though Pennsylvania has yet to pass basic laws that permit the testing of self-driving cars or rules that would govern what would happen in a crash. Uber is also not required to pass along any data from its vehicles to regulators.</p>

Consumer Watchdog Demands Transparency From Uber For Autonomous Vehicle Test

September 9, 2016  ·  Mark Reback

<p><strong>As Uber prepares to test a fleet of self-driving vehicles in Pittsburgh, Consumer Watchdog is concerned that regulators are recklessly embracing autonomous technology</strong></p>