Even Lawmakers Can Agree: Self-Driving Cars Are the Future

In a bold and somewhat unexpected move, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation that would dramatically increase the number of self-driving cars allowed on US streets. The "Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research In Vehicle Evolution Act," or SELF DRIVE Act, would not only hasten the deployment of driverless vehicles, but would pre-empt state regulation from blocking them.

The bill still awaits debate in the Senate, but could represent the first nationwide law to regulate autonomous vehicles. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) currently grants exemptions from federal motor vehicle safety standards for up to 2,500 autos per company for those wishing to test self-driving cars. The law would initially increase the number of exemptions to 25,000 annually, rising to 100,000 per year over the next three years.

Will Congress pass sweeping self-driving car legislation? Image source: Getty Images.

Source: Fool.com