Google asks US to shake-up self-driving car laws

Google’s self-driving car chief has urged lawmakers to ensure the US sets consistent laws for the technology.

Chris Urmson told a Senate hearing that the US Transport Secretary should be given authority over the matter rather than leaving it to individual states.

He also reiterated his company’s view that it would be safer if passengers were not able to override a vehicle’s autonomous systems.

That contrasts with the view of California’s regulator.

The state’s Department of Motor Vehicles published draft rules in December that said a trained human must still be able to take control.

Mr Urmson noted that 23 states had now set a total of 53 pieces of legislation relating to self-driving vehicles, some of which are at odds with each other.

“We currently face a growing patchwork of state laws and regulations on self-driving cars that has the potential to become unworkable,” Mr Urmson said.