U.S. Regulator Loosens Safety Standard for Self-Driving Delivery Car

A recent move could bring self-driving delivery vehicles to a street near you sooner than expected.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in February granted temporary approval to tech company Nuro to deploy autonomous vehicles. The low-speed R2, which is not designed to carry people, will be allowed to operate without certain safety features required on other self-driving vehicles. That includes rear and side-view mirrors, steering wheels, windshield wipers and brake pedals.

“Since this is a low-speed self-driving delivery vehicle, certain features that the [Transportation] Department traditionally required – such as mirrors and a windshield for vehicles carrying drivers – no longer make sense,” Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said in a statement announcing the decision.

The move could be a sign that the federal government could relax standards for other autonomous vehicles, according to a Detroit Free Press report. The temporary approval, which lasts for two years, requires Nuro to provide safety reports to NHTSA in real time. The company also has to engage with communities in which it plans to test.

Nuro plans to start testing vehicles in Houston soon, according to the Washington Post. It will start by delivering groceries for Walmart and Kroger and making pizza runs for Domino’s.

Safety Protections for Car Owners

As the push for self-driving vehicles moves at breakneck speed, it can be easy to overlook the serious problems that automakers are still having with human-operated cars. It seems like every week at least one major carmaker is recalling thousands of vehicles because of serious defects that put everyone on the road at risk.

The California lemon law protects drivers in the Golden State by giving car owners comprehensive rights. The law requires car manufacturers to perform repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty and to buy back the car if the manufacturer is not willing or is unable to fix the problem. That includes compensating the owner for the purchase price, financing charges and other related expenses.

There is no specific number of repair requests or attempts that must be made before the buyback requirement kicks in. That is why it is important to consult a seasoned California lemon law attorney. The law makes the car manufacturer responsible for any legal fees that an owner incurs enforcing his or her rights.

A California Lemon Law Attorney Can Help You

If you are a California car owner who has been stuck with a lemon, there are certain steps that you need to take to ensure that you are covered by the state law. The California lemon law lawyers at the Bickel Law Firm can help.

We have decades of combined legal experience, representing hundreds of clients in defective vehicle cases across the state. Our attorneys can help you understand your rights and options under the law.

Our offices are conveniently located in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law attorney.