Google has laid out a proposal to bring self-driving cars to market in the United States sooner rather than later.
In a letter to transport officials, Google has requested new rules enabling autonomous vehicles that pass federal safety standards to be deemed roadworthy.
The framework would enable all manufacturers - not just Google cars - who’s cars pass the tests to begin selling them.
Google has outlined how the US government could then set limits on the use of the cars, which don’t have steering wheels or pedals, based on safety concerns.
According to an extract from the proposal, obtained by the AP (via Mercury News), the new rules would offer "enormous potential safety benefits ... quite promptly with appropriate safety conditions and full public input."
Google’s self-driving cars have been in testing on public roads in California and more recently in Austin, Texas as the company builds towards an eventual consumer roll out.
The firm has touted the safety of its cars in relation to manual drivers, although public perception recently took a dip when video of a Google car colliding with a public bus emerged.
The incident, which took place in February, is the first known incident where the Google car is known to be at fault.
Regardless of Google’s efforts to expedite the process, it is still likely to be a few years before self-driving cars are available to legally drive on US roads.
