Google's self-driving cars to hit the road in Virginia

Google will start testing its autonomous car tech on the highways of Virginia, according to a new report. The testing is expected to take place on more than 70 miles of congested highways in Northern Virginia.

From Richmond Times Dispatch:

The research will be overseen by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute on portions of Interstates 95, 495 and 66 as well as on U.S. 29 and U.S. 50 that are being dubbed Virginia Automated Corridors.Test tracks at the institute's Smart Road in Montgomery County and the Virginia International Raceway in Halifax County will be used to certify technology as safe before the cars are allowed on the highway.

The highways on which Google is set to test the car tech are adjacent to Dulles International Airport, so Google may be looking to run tests in more congested traffic conditions. As the report notes, Virginia joins California, Michigan, Florida, Nevada, and Washington D.C. as the states that currently allow testing of autonomous vehicles.

Source: Richmond Times Dispatch; Via: The Northern Virginia Daily

Dan Thorp-Lancaster