Google's Self-Driving Cars Get License To Cruise Nevada's Highways And Byways

It’s not just about heading to Taco Bell anymore — Google has been granted a license in the state of Nevada to test its driverless cars on public streets and highways. Back in March, Google got permission from local police in Santa Clara, Calif. to let a blind man sit behind the wheel of the self-driving car to test it out.

The Las Vegas Sun says Google received the first license from the state Department of Motor Vehicles to test the “autonomous” vehicles, which is likely the first such license ever issued in the U.S.

The (self-driving) ball started rolling in 2011 when the state’s Legislature passed the first law in the country to permit testing of this kind of car. However, state regulations state that there must be a person behind the wheel as well as in the passenger’s seat during tests.

“It’s still a work in progress,” said Tom Jacobs, a DMV spokesman. “The system regulates the brakes, accelerator and steering.”

Google is ready to go with a test fleet of six Toyota Priuses, an Audi TT and a Lexus RX450h. There’s even a license plate design already for driverless cars — a red background with an infinity symbol on the left side.

Humans can take control and override the car’s system by stepping on the brake or turning the wheel.

Nevada issues Google first license for self-driving car [Las Vegas Sun]

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