Regulating Driverless Cars: Technology Moves Fast. Regulations Do Not.

7 Companies are testing driverless cars in California. As a result, California is trying to get ahead of regulations before the cars hit the consumer market. 2 Questions arise:

1. How do you regulate?

• Do self driving cars obey all traffic laws?
• What if their computers freeze?
• Can they smoothly hand control back to human drivers?​

2. How do you verify the safety standards of the cars?  3 options:

• Follow the current U.S. system, in which manufacturers self-certify their vehicles;
• Opt for a European system, in which independent companies verify safety; or
• States could get into the testing business.

Detroit News