Earlier today it was announced that Uber would be rolling out their fleet of self-driving cars in San Francisco. Prior to this, Uber had launched a similar program in Pittsburgh so in reality, the launch in San Francisco is an expansion of that program. Unfortunately it seems that California regulators are telling Uber that they need to stop.
According to a report from Associated Press, they have obtained a letter from the California DMV which basically tells Uber they need to stop this program immediately. “If Uber does not confirm immediately that it will stop its launch and seek a testing permit, DMV will initiate legal action.”
Apparently this is because Uber had failed to apply for a permit that would allow self-driving cars on California’s roads. This was echoed in a statement published on the California DMV’s website which reads, “The California DMV encourages the responsible exploration of self-driving cars. We have a permitting process in place to ensure public safety as this technology is being tested. Twenty manufacturers have already obtained permits to test hundreds of cars on California roads. Uber shall do the same.”
If you’re wondering what the fuss is, a recent video uploaded onto YouTube by Charles Rotter revealed a driverless Uber reportedly running a red light. Thankfully nothing untoward happened, but a permit would certainly go a long way in reassuring officials that their technology is up to scratch.