Pennsylvania Prepares For Self-Driving Vehicles
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- The state transportation secretary says self-driving cars are coming and that Pennsylvania should lead the way.
PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards took part as the state's newly established Autonomous Vehicles Testing Policy Task Force held its first meeting in Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
"We are witnessing the future of transportation being brought to life," Richards said. "Autonomous vehicles – more popularly known as self-driving cars – are coming our way faster than anyone may have predicted ten, five, even one year ago."
Richards is advocating for legislation that would allow PennDOT to oversee testing of self-driving vehicles on Pennsylvania roadways.
The task force, which will advise PennDOT on autonomous vehicle issues, met at Carnegie-Mellon University, no stranger to self-driving vehicle research.
"When it comes to autonomous vehicles, PennDOT's goal is two-fold," Richards said. "One, to support and encourage Pennsylvania's leadership role as a home for innovative technology solutions --and to ensure the safety of the travelling public."
The school's latest model is a Cadillac that can, among other things, merge onto highways by itself.
