Research and testing of self-driving cars in Michigan are seeing a boost. A package of bills that furthers testing of automated cars is on its way to Governor Rick Snyder’s desk.
The bi-partisan legislation allows self-driving cars on public roads without a human in the car ready to take over.
Democratic Representative Phil Phelps is the minority vice chair of the House committee that recommended the bills be adopted. He said this is a step toward making Michigan a top state for autonomous vehicles.
“The importance here lies in investment in the state and especially when it comes to potential job creation,” he said. “So we want Michigan to be a leader, especially when it comes to anything vehicle related.”
Charley Ballard, who literally wrote the book on Michigan’s economy, said, “I do believe that the companies like General Motorsand Ford will have a very important role to play and a lot of their research and production operations are here in Michigan.”
Given Snyder’s recent branding campaign – called Planet M – that promotes Michigan as a world center for innovative transportation and mobility research, he is likely to sign the legislation.
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—Cheyna Roth is a reporter for the Michigan Public Radio network. Contact WEMU News at734.487.3363 or email us at studio@wemu.org
