Companies Can Apply for Driverless Car Permits in California

Apr 23,2018

Self-driving car companies can now apply for a permit to operate without a safety driver on California roads. However, so far, only two companies have applied for the permit. One of those companies is Waymo; it is unclear which other company has applied.

Waymo already has driverless vehicles on the roads in Phoenix, and California has just made the option available on April 2. If the permit is granted, Waymo’s driverless vehicles will be operating in the Mountain View area.

As of now, it does not look like Uber will be applying for a permit to operate driverless cars in California. After one of its autonomous vehicles was involved in a fatal crash in Tempe, Arizona last month, the company said it would not reapply for a California DMV permit. Moreover, Uber has voluntarily suspended all of its self-driving programs around the country.

What Happened in the Uber Self-Driving Crash?

The Tempe Uber crash took the life of 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg. She was walking her bicycle across a street late at night when she was struck by the self-driving car. The crash is still being evaluated, but footage of the incident shows the car’s safety driver looking down and not at the road, as the pedestrian stepped out onto the road. The National Transportation Safety Board and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are both investigating the crash.

“While there is still a long way to go to ensure the safety of these vehicles, being able to test them is crucial to developing the technology,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the California personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured in an auto accident and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, and Yucca Valley and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.