After allowing the tests, California wants to regulate the widespread use of cars without drivers. In France, it is time to focus on the promotion of the delegation of conduct projects such as the concept of autonomous vehicle and connected Renault Next Two.
California allows, under certain conditions, traffic self test vehicles since the fall of 2012. And prepares to oversee the extensive use of driverless cars on its roads. The technology is "ahead of the law in many areas" .
Security and data protection
To allow public use, the state must change its law, which states: "Only a man can drive a car," while ensuring the safety of the device. Today, the presence of a valid driver is required in automobiles tested.
California also questioned the use of data by multiple stakeholders (manufacturers, publishers, service providers, policy ...). The current law requires that autonomous vehicles retain data traffic navigation, so that they can be used in case of accident. But it is unclear as to their use for surveillance purposes. What makes the debate.
A California law in 2014
Cars driven automatically connected, equipped with onboard computers, sensors and receivers could be sold by the end of the decade . An opportunity that does not want to miss the automakers and the big names in the global high-tech scene, Google leads with its "driverless car" .
Before that, the administration - the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) - wants to legislate and secure using autopilots vehicles on public roads . The regulation should be finalized by the end of 2014 and could refer, according to the Associated Press. In the United States, three states - Nevada, Florida and Michigan - allow testing cars without drivers.
What is happening in France?
In France, it is not there yet. But projects like Navia, shuttle, Servo designed by Induct were launched. And French carmakers are all working to develop cars without driver or with systems of delegation of conduct in certain situations: Renault with its project Next Two (read: Next Two: Renault ahead of the track of the car robot ) and PSA Peugeot Citroën in partnership with the research institute INRIA. The auto supplier Valeo and Ifsttar via the Institute VeDeCoM (carbon-communicating vehicle and mobility) are also very active in this area.