Michigan’s new law allows self-driving cars on roads without human drivers

Firms can now test self-driving vehicles on Michigan public roads without a motorist or steering wheel under latest laws that could push the state to the leading edge of autonomous automobile development.

The package of expenses signed into law Friday features few specific state regulations and leaves lots of decisions to automakers and companies such as Google and Uber.

It also enables automakers and tech companies to run self-driving taxi services and permits test parades of self-driving tractor-trailers as long as people are in each truck. And they permit the sale of self-driving automobiles to the general public once they are evaluated and licensed, according to the state.

The bills enable testing without troublesome policies so the industry can move on with possible life-saving innovation, said Governor Rick Snyder, who was to sign the bills. “It makes Michigan a location where particularly for the auto market it’s a good location to do work,” he stated.

The bills provide Michigan the potential to be a leader by providing the companies more autonomy than state, California, which now needs human backup drivers in case something goes wrong.