Japan allows the use of self driving cars on public roads

Japanese lawmakers have enacted amendments to their Road Traffic Act which have allowed for the use of autonomous cars on public roads. Under the Society of Automotive Engineers’ (SAE International) Levels of Driving Automation, these would be considered Level 3 autonomous vehicles, which are capable of driving themselves autonomously but still require a driver at the wheel to reassume control if needed. The amended law will come into effect in 2020. The swift approval of the changes, which came only six months after proposal, may be in preparation for the country’s plans to have a driverless car system by 2020 for the National Olympics.