Senior Editor - Restaurants
Autonomous vehicle company Nuro received the California’s first commercial permit for autonomous delivery, paving the way for the self-driving vehicles to begin delivering pizza, food and groceries in the coming year.
Nuro has been testing the autonomous vehicles on public roads without drivers, now the robotics-startup can start its paid service, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Issuing the first deployment permit is a significant milestone in the evolution of autonomous vehicles in California. We will continue to keep the safety of the motoring public in mind as this technology develops, said Steve Gordon, DMV director, in a statement.
Startup Nuro Ready to Deliver With Autonomous Vehicles
Nascent company putting vehicles on roads without backup drivers.
The Nuro R2 is designed to tackle the “last mile” deliveries, like groceries.
A Silicon Valley startup, Nuro, is the first company to receive a permit to use its autonomous vehicles for commercial deliveries in two California counties without drivers.
The permit from the California Department of Motor Vehicles allows the nascent autonomous vehicle outfit to deploy self-driving vehicles on public streets near its Mountain View, California headquarters.
“The service will start with our fleet of Prius vehicles in fully autonomous mode, followed by our custom-designed electric R2 vehicles,” David Estrada, Nuro’s chief legal and policy officer, wrote on the company’s blog.
Here are the new traffic laws drivers in California need to heed starting Jan. 1
City News Service Beginning Jan. 1, several new traffic laws will go into effect, including safe space for emergency vehicles and rescuing children from hot cars, that residents need to heed, the California Highway Patrol said Wednesday.
Assembly Bill 2285, which Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law in September, establishes potential fines for motorists who do not slow down and, whenever possible, change lanes when encountering a Caltrans vehicle, tow truck or any emergency vehicle with lights flashing on a highway.
Previously, penalties were only imposed when violators failed to take precautions and make safe space for fire and law enforcement vehicles. The new law clarifies that Caltrans equipment and tow trucks conducting operations on a highway be given the same courtesy.
Previously, penalties were only imposed when violators failed to take precautions and make a safe space for fire and law enforcement vehicles. The new law clarifies that Caltrans equipment and tow trucks conducting operations on a highway be given the same courtesy.
However, AB 2285 does not specify that motorists must move over if there might be conflicts with other drivers, or conditions don t allow for it. But they must slow down. Otherwise, CHP officers could write them a $50 ticket.
AB 2717: Children in Unattended Vehicles
Also starting with the New Year, AB 2717, signed into law by the governor at the end of September, amends existing law concerning leaving children under the age of 6 unattended in vehicles.