Senate Panel Okays Bill to Speed Autonomous Car Test

A Senate panel has approved a bill to help accelerate the development of self-driving cars.

The measure, similar to one passed unanimously last month by the House of Representatives, is widely expected to win an easy Senate vote.

Both bills would prohibit states from imposing their own performance standards on robotic vehicles, a stipulation carmakers say is essential to make interstate sales of such cars feasible. Carmakers would be allowed to sell 15,000 autonomous vehicles in the first year and as many as 80,000 after the third year.

Neither version of the measure would apply the same benefits to robotic highway trucks or any other vehicles that weigh more than 10,000 lbs. Most developers of autonomous driving systems are working on versions for trucks, an application many experts believe could be commercialized before robotic cars are ready.

Backers say the legislation will fast-track technologies to enable the U.S. to lead other developers of completely autonomous vehicles. Critics claim the measure lacks enough protections to ensure the new technologies would make a self-driving car at least as safe as human-driven vehicles.