Google is heading to Texas for further development of its autonomous vehicle, after years of tests on the California roads.
The tech giant has confirmed that it has begun testing one of its prototypes in Austin, Texas in order to explore different traffic patterns and road conditions. One of the company’s specially prepared Lexus RX450h has been making trips without the aid of a driver during last week with another vehicle joining it soon, according to Jennifer Haroon, head of business operations for the Google self-driving car project.
Texas does not have any special regulations for autonomous vehicles, as a recent bill which included basic safety requirement for self-driving vehicles failed to pass in the state recently, but Google is taking its own safety measures. The prototypes will not drive without a driver on highways and two ‘safety’ drivers will always be present inside the car.
Google has already announced that it will begin tests this summer on public roads in California for its other self-driving prototypes as well.
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