California Gives a Green Light To Companies Testing Driverless Delivery Vehicles

An anonymous reader quotes a report from ZDNet: California has said it will now allow companies to test light-duty autonomous delivery vehicles on the state's public roads. The State of California's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced the new regulations last week, which allows companies with a permit to operate autonomous delivery vehicles that weigh up to 10,001 pounds (4.54 tons).

"This weight category includes "autonomous passenger cars, mid-sized pickup trucks and cargo vans carrying goods such as pizza or groceries", the DMV said. The new rules still excludes testing autonomous vehicles that weigh more than 10,001 pounds. "The adoption of these regulations means Californians soon could receive deliveries from an autonomous vehicle provided the company fulfills the requirements," DMV Director Steve Gordon said. "As always, public safety is our primary focus." Companies will need to ensure their driverless delivery trucks are equipped with a "communication link between the vehicle and a remote operator and the ability to display or transfer vehicle owner or operator information in the event of a collision."

Also, these vehicles must be certified to industry standards for helping defend against and response to "cyberattacks, unauthorized intrusions or false vehicle control commands."