Michigan Passing Bill to Allow Driverless Cars

Lawmakers in Michigan want to take advantage of the future market of driverless cars now — several years before they're available to the public — as the state stands to gain economic activity from firms that want to expand research for this technology. Current Michigan law allows companies to test autonomous vehicles in the state under specific conditions, with updated legislation outlining the sale and operation of these vehicles on Michigan roads.

The legislation would expand on laws passed back in 2013, with the changes being largely driven by technology companies successfully proving the viability of driverless cars. Naturally, one of the next steps is bringing them to market, and increasing autonomous vehicles on the road already has bipartisan support.

The bills, if passed, would let companies put driverless cars on public roads without a human driver behind the wheel. As of 2016, Michigan law lets autonomous vehicles on the road, but a human must be behind the wheel at all times in case the person has to take over driving. Legislation also expands the ability of small fleets of commercial trucks to travel in closely packed units, called platoons, along highways. Ford, General Motors and Fiat Chrysler could create networks of autonomous vehicles for people to use.

The introduced legislation follows moves by Detroit automakers to advance the technology behind self-driving cars. GM bought a startup that makes self-driving software for vehicles. Google signed a partnership with Fiat Chrysler to make a fleet of 100 autonomous minivans. All of this happened after Google created an innovation center outside of Detroit that focuses on driverless cars and after the University of Michigan helped build the Mobility Transportation Center with 26 firms. MTC tests autonomous vehicles in real-world situations, such as driving in a city, dealing with obstacles in the street and driving under different weather conditions. This allows designers to perfect the cars' driving capabilities.

Michigan recognizes the technology is almost to the stage of mass production. Google wants to market this technology to consumers by the end of 2019, a timetable that ramps up the research behind these vehicles. The Big Three automakers stand to gain a lot of revenue from autonomous vehicles, and auto manufacturers are a huge part of Michigan's economy. It only makes sense that Michigan legislators are on board for expanding laws for self-driving cars.

One law allows companies expand the wireless technology in driverless cars. Wireless communications let the vehicles communicate with each other to create safer driving conditions. A plan outlined in one bill lets companies create a testing center in a vacant plant that made bombers in World War II. This facility lets companies test autonomous vehicles at highway speeds, a vital step needed to put this technology in the hands of consumers just eight years after the first laws passed supporting this technology.

Despite the concerns of consumer advocacy groups, driverless cars are the future. Michigan has the right idea by expanding laws so manufacturers and innovators can keep up with advancements in technology.

Photo courtesy of Travis Wise at Flickr.com