WASHINGTON -- Google showed off its driverless car during a demonstration Thursday morning outside its offices on New York Avenue NW downtown.
The District of Columbia has not yet passed regulations for self-driving cars, but the Department of Motor Vehicles granted special permission for the demonstration, according to a media advisory from the office of D.C. Councilmember Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3).
Nevada allows the testing of self-driving cars on state roads and highways.
Google's car was recently spotted parked on 30th Street NW in Georgetown near the heart of M Street.
Google wouldn't allow members of the media to get a close-up view on Thursday. In fact, the press apparently wasn't event invited -- at least by the company, according to The Washington Post's Tim Craig:
Despite the confusion, Cheh and D.C. Councilmember Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) did get to take a test ride. "That was amazing," Cheh said, getting out of the car.
Wells said "I really do trust technology."
But Google didn't trust people, including Wells, to take photos of the car's interior.
Google Tests Self-Driving Car In D.C.
Wells told reporters that he is excited about the ways a self-driving car could reduce congestion and pollution in D.C. (He also said he could see the car reducing people's need for taxis.)
Cheh, who chairs the D.C. Council's committee overseeing transportation, said she's ready to "start thinking about what regulatory structure we'll need to permit this."
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