California Public Utilities Commission approves self-driving cars for paid rides in San Francisco

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has voted in favor of allowing self-driving cars to transport paying customers in San Francisco. Concerns were raised about the safety of autonomous vehicles, with reports of them blocking emergency vehicles and driving erratically. Tech companies believe that restrictions on self-driving vehicles would hinder their ability to improve and deploy the technology. Supporters and opponents of self-driving cars testified for over six hours in the CPUC hearings. However, supporters of the legislation point to San Francisco’s experience with self-driving vehicles as evidence that the technology is not yet ready for widespread use.