Michigan has paved the way for self-driving cars to roam its public roads with new laws that allow prototype testing, fleets of autonomous shuttles, and eventually selling the cars to consumers.
The four autonomous driving bills that Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder signed on Friday will help create America's first comprehensive statewide self-driving regulations, Recode reports. Previously, state law forbade autonomous driving on public roads.
The new laws amend Michigan's vehicle code to allow motor vehicle manufacturers to self-certify that their autonomous prototypes meet safety standards. They also make the state the first to allow completely autonomous ride-sharing fleets. But Michigan lawmakers don't consider companies like Google and Uber to be motor vehicle manufacturers, so it appears they are excluded for the time being, according to Recode.
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It's unsurprising that Michigan, the heart of the American auto industry, would take the lead on self-driving car regulations. Already, both foreign and US automakers have been testing their designs on private campuses in the state, including Ford's Mcity, where self-driving cars experience simulated real-world driving conditions like traffic and pedestrians.
Although Michigan's new laws may be the most comprehensive, other states and the federal government have also been grappling with how to regulate autonomous driving. California allows manufacturers to test self-driving car prototypes on public roads, and Pennsylvania welcomed a pilot program in August that includes a fleet of autonomous Ubers roaming the streets of Pittsburgh.
The US Department of Transportation, meanwhile, has proposed a Federal Autonomous Vehicles Policy. It has generated interest both from companies with current self-driving prototypes as well as Apple, which has been secretive about its automotive ambitions. Apple on Monday sent a letter to the DOT arguing that companies which develop autonomous driving technologies in the future should not face more regulations than do those who are already testing them.