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Laws related to self-driving cars may be relaxing

On Behalf of | Feb 15, 2016 | Car Accidents |

West Virginia motorists may know that there are a number of companies that are working to create autonomous vehicles, with Google being one of the most prominent. Technologies are increasingly allowing computer systems in cars to handle driving, but organizations seeking to develop this technology have frequently run into problems because laws require a human being as the driver.

However, a recent letter to Google from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Chief Counsel stated that the agency will consider the self-driving system that Google uses to be a driver. This may help to pave the way for companies to create vehicles and systems that rely less and less on humans.

Google’s goal is apparently to make it so that a person does not have the option to take over at the wheel. In its view, allowing people the option to override the car’s computer system could be dangerous. Although the NHTSA’s letter to Google indicates a loosening of the rules, federal laws still require that cars be outfitted with steering wheels and brake pedals that people can use to control their vehicle.

While there is a lot of speculation that self-driving cars will ultimately make the roads safer, the current reality is that car collisions due to human error or negligence occur on a very regular basis. The cost of a crash can be high, especially if someone was injured as a result. An injured victim in a crash that was caused by an impaired, distracted or otherwise negligent motorist may want to have the assistance of an attorney in preparing and filing a lawsuit seeking compensation for medical expenses and other losses that have been incurred.