Senators try to speed up deployment of self-driving cars

Two senators said Monday that they're launching a bipartisan effort to help to speed up the deployment of self-driving cars on the nation's roads. It's the first major congressional attempt to address the advent of the vehicles. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), the chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) said they're exploring legislation that "clears hurdles and advances innovation in self-driving vehicle technology." The senators' counterparts in the House are also gearing up to address the new technology, with a hearing scheduled for Tuesday. Automakers cite federal requirements that all vehicles must have steering wheels and brake pedals as examples of regulations that presume there will be a human driver and might inhibit the introduction of self-driving cars.