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Expert: Driverless cars face long road to public acceptance

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California regulators have given the green light to start-up Zoox Inc. to operate the state’s first autonomous ride service.

The decision by the Public Utilities Commission will give Zoox the chance to refine its technology.

Lauren Fix, the Car Coach, says the public has not caught up with the concept.

“Actually, we produced it in 2009. Audi had a vehicle at TT. I actually rode in it. We had an opportunity to drive from Palo Alto to Las Vegas. Yes, it worked! But there are so many hurdles that need to be cleared. And also consumer confidence – I don’t think we’re there. If we were, I don’t think there’d be anyone behind the wheel and we’d be driving them today.”

She says regulators have a lot of work to do to reassure the public about the safety of driverless vehicles.

“The one thing we don’t want – any of us, is we don’t want there to be lax rules. We want to make sure that there are rules in place to make sure that these vehicles can communicate, not just with the person in the vehicle, but with other cars on the road. And that’s a huge factor that has to be addressed and there really is no exact answer to that, which also opens up that can of worms, which no one has addressed, which is hackers.”

Lauren Fix was a guest on 790 KABC

By Sandy Wells

KABC News