China adopts national guidelines for self-driving cars

In a move to keep pace with other countries which support the development of self-driving vehicles, China has introduced nation-wide guidelines for the testing of such vehicles on public roads. The guidelines outline a series of requirements such as the testing of autonomous cars should be first done in non-public zones; road tests can only be carried out on designated streets; and the test vehicles must always have a safety driver on board to be able to take control in unforeseen circumstances. The national rules come to complement guidelines already announced at the local level, in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai.