Florida Will Allow Self-Driving Car Tests To Be Conducted Without Backup Drivers

Self-driving cars have come a long way, but for the most part, we still don’t really know how the tech will fare in day-to-day situations. This is why despite there being hundreds, if not thousands of hours of testing having been done, the general rule is that a human backup driver is required to be in the car at all times.

This is so that in the event something goes wrong, the human driver can slam on the brakes or take over the wheel to control the situation. However, it seems that over in Florida, the local government has decided that they want to take testing to the next level where Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, has signed a new bill which would allow self-driving cars to be tested without a human backup driver.

This means that moving forwards, don’t be surprised if you see cars on the road driving by themselves without anyone in them. In a statement issued by DeSantis, “Signing this legislation paves the way for Florida to continue as a national leader in transportation innovation and technological advancement.”

The bill also changes the way the law applies to texting and driving, where occupants inside of a self-driving vehicle will be exempt from laws that are against texting and driving and other distractions.

Tyler Lee
Categories: Transportation
Tags: Legal, Self-Driving Cars