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Google Favors Less-Regulated UK For Self-Driving Car Development (telegraph.co.uk)

Posted by Soulskill on from the why-the-tardis-succeeded dept.

An anonymous reader writes: According to documents obtained by The Telegraph, Google considers the UK a key market for development of its self-driving car program. In one of the five meetings the documents describe, Sarah Hunter, head of Google's experimental SDV division, commented that the company is "very positive about the non-regulatory approach being taken in the UK [which] places the UK in a good position and could be seen as an example of best practice." Google has also escaped excessive regulation in the area of drone development by pursuing Project WinG in the easier regulatory climes of Australia.

4 of 82 comments (clear)

  1. Huh? by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 4, Funny

    The UK as a less regulated environment? Is this April first, or did I accidentally get to the Onion?

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    1. Re:Huh? by nukenerd · · Score: 2

      There is also the extremely poor state of UK roads, basically third world quality for the most part.

      Also the fact that UK roads (like the country as a whole) are desparately overcrowded, narrow, traffic jams everywhere, traffic lights and roundabouts (often combined these days) everywhere, anomalous speed restriction policies, and local council traffic officers' crackpot scheme pet ideas*. I am often confused myself at unfamiliar junctions which traffic light head applies to which lane. I would have though a nation of more wide-open roads would be a better starting ground.

      * Take a look at this lunacy : https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

  2. Just like every other company says by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "Don't regulate us, it's better if you just let us monitor ourselves. Don't worry, you can trust us to do the right thing."

    --
    #DeleteChrome
  3. I wonder if they have seen our roads by Chrisq · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I wonder if they have seen our roads before writing this. There are a number of things which make it much more difficult. Narrow roads, where one car can go at a time, possibly one having to reverse. No jay-walking laws, except for a few motorways people have priority. Narrow country lanes where horses, cyclists etc. have no sense