Toasted Dolphin

Google’s self-driving cars might soon become more than a pet project. The company is quietly lobbying legislators to make Nevada the first state to allow autonomous vehicles on public roads.

Google has created a line of self-driving hybrids, including six Toyota Priuses and an Audi TT. The vehicles have been tested on more than 140,000 miles of California roads, at least 1,000 of which were driven fully autonomously.

The company has hired Las Vegas-based lobbyist David Goldwater to promote the two bills, which should come to a vote before the state legislature’s session ends in June. One bill is an amendment to an existing electric vehicle law; the amendment would permit for the licensing and testing of self-driving cars; the second is an exemption that would allow for texting while driving.

Goldwater said in an address to the Nevada State Assembly on April 7 that self-driving vehicles are safer, more fuel-efficient and aid economic development.

To see one of Google’s autonomous cars in action, check out the above video taken at a TED conference in Long Beach, California, earlier this year.

Pigeon wrote:The borg hits the road.

Doesn't Google make enough money already - never an end in sight. Society needs to start looking down on the rich to somehow cure this greed situation.

How neat.... it would solve the drinking and driving and texting while driving concerns

lkwalker wrote:

How neat.... it would solve the drinking and driving and texting while driving concerns

What the GoogleBorg didn't tell you...

As you ride around on happy automatic in your little red motor car, farting and eating popcorn, you'll be entertained by an endlessly scrolling banner of colorful advertisements on your dashboard. Courtesy of the GoogleBoyz. Enjoy your rented life.