---
title: "California Approves Testing of Self-Driving Cars Without Human Backup Drivers"
description: "California will allow self-driving cars to operate without human backup drivers onboard."
date: "2018-02-27"
modified: "2018-02-27"
authors:
  - name: "Stephen Edelstein"
    job_title: "Weekend Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/stephen-edelstein"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/tech/18834/california-approves-testing-of-self-driving-cars-without-human-backup-drivers"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Autonomous Cars"
  - "California"
  - "regulations"
  - "self-driving cars"
  - "Tech"
---

# California Approves Testing of Self-Driving Cars Without Human Backup Drivers

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/01/waymo-fca-self-driving-car.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com\</em\>*

California will allow companies to test self-driving cars on its roads without human backup drivers. The state is a hotbed of autonomous-car testing, but current rules require a human safety driver to be behind the wheel at all times. The newly-approved rules make that optional.

California's Office of Administrative Law approved the [new regulations](<https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/wcm/connect/aa08dc20-5980-4021-a2b2-c8dec326216b/AV_Second15Day_Notice_Express_Terms.pdf?MOD=AJPERES>) Feb. 26. The state's Department of Motor Vehicles will post a public notice on its website March 2, which starts a 30-day public comment period. Following that, the DMV will be able to issue permits beginning April 2. Companies will be able to apply for a permit to test cars without a driver, with a driver, or to allow members of the public to use self-driving cars.

The regulations include a provision for [remote operation of self-driving cars](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/18787/remotely-operated-cars-may-hit-california-roads-in-april>), so there will still be a human backup to some extent. Remote operation will allow humans to monitor self-driving cars from miles away and intervene if necessary. This allows for human oversight without having to actually put a person behind the wheel.

The California rules are an important step toward putting truly driverless cars on the road, but regulators are also playing catch-up with the companies they govern. Google spinoff Waymo began testing cars without human backup drivers [in Arizona last year](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/15848/waymo-is-already-running-cars-with-no-one-behind-the-wheel>), and General Motors' Cruise Automation division claims it is ready to deploy a self-driving car [with no manual controls](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/17616/gms-next-generation-self-driving-car-has-no-steering-wheel>). It demonstrates the challenge for regulators in keeping pace with an evolving technology.

## Author
Stephen has always been passionate about cars, and managed to turn that passion into a career as a freelance automotive journalist. When he's not handling weekend coverage for The Drive, you can find him looking for a new book to read.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/SAEdelstein>)