Apple wants California to change self-driving car reports

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apple lexus
Apple's self-driving Lexus hits the streets of California.
Photo: Bloomberg

Just weeks after getting its permit to drive self-driving cars on public roads, Apple is already asking the California DMV to change reporting protocol requirements.

Apple sent the DMV a letter today arguing for changes to the rules for “disengagement reporting,” which if successfully implemented, would give the public less information about Apple’s self-driving vehicles.

“Apple believes that public acceptance is essential to the advancement of automated vehicles. Access to transparent and intuitive data on the safety of the vehicles being tested will be central to gaining public acceptance. However, the current and proposed disengagement reporting requirements do not achieve this result.”

DMV Disengagement Report Changes

The letter outlines a number of amendments that Apple would like the DMV to consider. Apple says it is concerned that inconsistencies in how ‘disengagements’ are reported will lead to media coverage that is misleading or confusing to the public.

All companies with self-driving car testing permits are required to report all accidents directly to the DMV. A number of accidents involving Google’s self-driving cars have been covered by the media, one involved the driver being sent to a hospital even though it wasn’t the vehicles fault.

Apple would like to keep misinformation about its car project from spreading to the public while its still in development. The company wants reports to only cover when a driver takes control of the car to prevent a crash or traffic violation.

You can read the full letter below:

Apple's letter to California DMV requesting clarifications to test protocol documentation by Mike Wuerthele on Scribd

Via: AppleInsider

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