Google Self-Driving Cars Head to Austin, TX for Testing
Google's self-driving cars will get some new scenery for testing.
After years of testing and almost 2 million miles logged near their Mountain View, California headquarters, Google is now bringing its self-driving cars for testing in Austin, Texas, according to USA Today.
Two modified Lexus SUVs will arrive at the Texas capital to be tested in all new traffic patterns and driving situations.
During the past few weeks, two Google safety drivers have driven through Austin to give one of the SUVs the data it needs. By driving around the area, the SUV learned more about the streets, traffic signals, keep-clear zones and much more.
"Over the last few days, our software and sensors have started doing the driving," the company said in a statement.
The second Lexus SUV will be piloted by these safety drivers this week. The fleet of self-driving cars in Mountain View was recently joined by some of its pod-like prototypes.
In the past six years of testing, Google's self-driving cars have been involved in at least a dozen accidents. However, all of these accidents have been the fault of humans in other cars, reports show.
The testing of the self-driving cars in Austin could lead to more Texas cities having the self-driving cars test their roads, according to Joe Weber, executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation.
"As we focus efforts on the reduction of congestion and highway safety, we welcome and support Google's autonomous vehicle test within the state of Texas," he said in a statement.
By having the self-driving cars test out other areas and roadways, they are becoming safer, smarter and more road-ready, according to The Verge.
Google is not the only company that is trying to create a driverless car. Ride-sharing company Uber is trying to ramp up its efforts to create a self-driving car, while carmakers Ford, Audi and others are adding self-driving features to its new models.
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