US regulators give thumbs up to driver-less cars

Federal auto safety regulators yesterday officially backed autonomous car makers over their claims of cars driven by machines being safer than cars driven by people.

The backing came with the release of long-awaited guidelines for the booming industry of automated vehicles. Though the Obama administration promised strong safety oversight, but according to commentators, the move sent a clear signal to automakers that the door was wide open for driverless cars.

''We envision in the future, you can take your hands off the wheel, and your commute becomes restful or productive instead of frustrating and exhausting,'' said Jeffrey Zients, director of the National Economic Council, adding that highly automated vehicles ''will save time, money and lives.''

The statements come as a clear signal from federal regulators that they saw automated car technology as a win for auto safety. According to commentators, the endorsement of the fast-evolving technology, would now require regulators to balance the commercial interests of companies including Tesla, Google and Uber with concerns over public safety, especially in view of the recent crashes involving.  semiautonomous cars.

The policies unveiled yesterday were aimed at addressing the issues. In a joint appearance, Zients and Anthony Foxx, secretary of the US Department of Transportation, released the first guidelines, outlining safety expectations and seeking to usher in uniform rules for the nascent technology.

Meanwhile, ride-hailing service Uber though based in California's Silicon Valley, has become the latest auto-related firm to say it would make sure it had a presence in the Motor City.

Uber aims to open a new research centre in metro Detroit by the end of this year to accommodate increased work with auto suppliers and other technology companies involved in autonomous vehicle development, Sherif Marakby, Uber vice president for global vehicle development, said at a conference in Novi, Michigan yesterday.