[Techtaffy Newsdesk]

The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles has approved Google’s license application to test autonomous vehicles on Nevada public roads.  It is the first license for driverless cars issued in the United States.

After drive testing demonstrations along freeways, state highways and neighborhoods both in Carson City and the busy Las Vegas Strip, the department’s Autonomous Review Committee met to review Google’s safety plans, employee training, system functions and accident reporting mechanisms.  The committee approved the application and is now creating the state’s first autonomous testing business license and license plates for the international company.  The license plates displayed on the test vehicle will have a red background and feature an infinity symbol on the left side.

Google was the first company to file an application with the department to test their autonomous system.  Other auto manufacturers have indicated their desire to test and develop autonomous technology in Nevada in the future, says the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Currently, the DMV is accepting applications for testing only. Autonomous vehicles are not available to the general public.

Manufacturers, software developers and others interested in testing their vehicles in Nevada must submit an application to the Department along with proof that one or more of your autonomous vehicles have been driven for a combined minimum of at least 10,000 miles, a complete description of your autonomous technology, a detailed safety plan, and your plan for hiring and training your test drivers, among other things.

Once an application is approved, the DMV will issue a testing license along with sets of red license plates for the vehicles. When autonomous vehicles are eventually made available for public use, motorists will be required to obtain a special driver license endorsement and the DMV will issue green license plates for the vehicles.