California opens pathway for cars that lack steering wheel [View all]

[Zorro]

California regulators have changed course and opened a pathway for the public to get self-driving cars of the future that lack a steering wheel or pedals.

It's not going to happen soon, because automakers and some tech companies are still testing prototypes.

But, in a shift, the state's Department of Motor Vehicles said in a revision of draft regulations released late Friday that the most advanced self-driving cars would no longer be required to have a licensed driver if federal officials deem them safe enough.

The redrafted regulations will be the subject of a public hearing Oct. 19 in Sacramento.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-autonomous-vehicle-california-20160930-snap-story.html