California to allow driverless cars without backup operators at the wheel

Driverless cars plying California's roads are about to get a little more driverless. Under new regulation passed by the state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), self-driving cars will be permitted to use public roads without carrying a human who can take over if things go awry. The regulations still require people to be supervising the cars remotely. The news represents a major step for the burgeoning autonomous car industry and eases the path for California to continue playing a prominent role. Arizona has already cleared the way for cars without human operators, issuing a permit this year for Waymo - a unit of Alphabet Inc - to operate a commercial ride-hailing service using a fleet of driverless cars.