New York City will allow testing of robotic taxis with a safety operator behind the wheel

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The city of New York has announced the launch of a new system for authorising companies to test autonomous cars on its roads. However, one of the key conditions will be that the driver must be behind the wheel during the tests to ensure safety.

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According to Mayor Eric Adams, the city is ready for the technology to arrive, but testing must be done correctly and safely in a complex urban environment. The permit programme is described as "rigorous".

In addition to the driver-operator requirement, companies need to provide data on previous test experience in other cities, including crashes and instances of the autopilot taking over control.

The application must also include information on driver recruitment and training, and proof of compliance with Society of Automotive Engineers standards. In addition, companies will be required to disclose protocols for what operators do when the autopilot system fails to prevent accidents.

According to city officials, the measures are designed to prevent a repeat of the problems San Francisco and other cities have faced in testing fully unmanned vehicles.

In New York City, autonomous technology has been tested only sporadically in recent years because of strict local laws. Now the city, which is the largest taxi market, expects to attract robotaxi companies as long as safety regulations are strictly enforced.

Source: The Verge