China issues safety guidelines for autonomous transport vehicles
China on Tuesday issued safety guidelines for the use of autonomous vehicles in public transport, the latest in a series of measures preparing for the increased use of driverless cars. The guidelines apply to autonomous vehicles for passengers including taxis as well as for freight, the Ministry of Transport said in a statement. The guidelines cover vehicles of various degrees of automation and mandate they carry at least one driver or security inspector. They also require companies using autonomous vehicles for public transport to be qualified and licensed and state that companies can work together with automakers on such operations. "The guideline could accelerate the adoption of autonomous driving technologies in China with a more pragmatic approach by regulating automakers and fleet operators," said Xue Jiancong, president of the innovation unit at Chinese logistics company FOR-U Smart Freight. "Unlike their US peers, the Chinese regulators don't direct...