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California tells Uber to get a permit for its self-driving cars
You know how Uber was certain that its San Francisco self-driving car test was legal, and didn't need a permit? It might want to rethink that assessment. California's Department of Motor Vehicles tells Uber that it must get a permit to try out its autonomous ridesharing vehicles on state roads, just as 20 other companies have done. And the agency isn't asking nicely. In a letter to Uber, the DMV warns that the firm "must cease" the San Francisco operation and apply for a permit if it wants to avoid "legal action."
The DMV is publishing self-driving car accident reports
The California DMV has released the reports for a full year's worth of self-driving car accidents. From the accounts in the paperwork none of the eight accidents involving Google's cars can be blamed on autonomous technology. In fact, six out of eight of the accidents were drivers rear-ending one of the company's retrofitted Lexus RX450h SUVs, half of those while the robotic vehicle was stationary. It's worth noting that all the accounts come from Google, which is required by law to file documents within ten days of a collision.
California carpool exemptions expire, quashing yellow-sticker envy
It looks like it's time to kiss that sweet HOV goodbye for lone California hybrid drivers. No, there hasn't been a spike in Clean Air Vehicle sticker thievery -- this time it's official. According to the California DMV, those little yellow stickers that once gave hybrid owners the right to ride solo in carpool lanes have expired, leaving some 85,000 drivers to fall in line with the rest of the state's commuters. You'll forgive us if we don't shed a tear over this announcement.
