Self-driving cars are ultimately safer than those driven by humans

In the United States, the future got a little closer this week. The state of Nevada became the first to allow self-driving cars on its public roads.

The state issued Google the first testing license for its absolutely autonomous vehicles (aka self-driving car), which will allow the cars to drive on public streets and highways. The self-driving cars are guided by GPS, visual indicators, sensor, and artificial intelligence software.

Google says that since 2010, it has performed more than 200,000 miles of computer-led test drives on private tracks.

Nevada law allows autonomous vehicles to be tested on its roads. The self-driving cars, however, must have two people inside at all times – one in the driver’s seat and one in the front passenger seat.

Advocates of autonomous driving argue that self-driving cars are ultimately safer than those driven by humans. Last year, Google software engineer Sebastian Thrun said in a blog post that the search giant’s aim in developing the vehicles was to “help prevent traffic accidents, free up people’s time, and reduce carbon emissions by fundamentally changing car use.”

Nevada is not the only state to consider allowing autonomous vehicle testing on its roads. California, Oklahoma, Hawaii, and Florida are also contemplating similar measures.