California mandates human controls on Google’s self driving cars

Google's self driving car seems to have failed to impress the California Department of Motor Vehicles with reports saying the department is insisting that the car must have some features which would allow a driver to take control of the vehicle when needed, The Next Digit reported.

According to commentators, Google, which has been working on the project and was now on the verge of finalising the car, would now need to make some immediate basic changes to the model.

Google had earlier this year showcased its dream project, a car driven by software and the steering wheel with buttons. The car is perhaps the most unorthodox looking models to have been unveiled in the annals of motoring with the front resembling a smiley face.

However, with the intervention of California Department of Motor Vehicles, Google might have to change a bit of its tiny two-seater.

In a statement, Google acknowledged the demand of California Department of Motor Vehicles. The company added that it would add the required features and start testing the car on private roads over the coming months before actually launching the car for the customers.

The department meanwhile is set to revise the rules for manufacturers to test self-driving cars on public roads next month, effectively banning the Google car techtree.com reported.

The new law would require test cars to be fitted with manual controls, to let drivers take control of the vehicle in case of self-driving system failure.

While that was not too much of a problem for traditional car makers, who so far had been outfitting regular cars with self-driving tech, Google's car had no controls apart from a start / stop button.

The Wall Street Journal reported, Google would respond by outfitting the vehicle with a steering wheel and pedal system for its test vehicles, most likely in time for their September roll-out.

Apart from facing trouble in the US, the UK Department of Transport could also follow the lead by its US counterpart and call for manual controls on self-driving cars.

Google's self-driving car would be limited to a top speed of 25 mph, until the company proved higher speed would not pose safety threats (See: Google's self driving cars take to city traffic).

While the company's self-built car would be expected on US roads as soon as next month, other test locations include the UK and Japan.