California gives green light to self-driving car tests

The U.S. state of California is easing its rules for autonomous car testing, by allowing testing of vehicles in which there is no human driver. The new rules have yet to be submitted for public consultation, with a final version expected by the end of the year, according to its Department of Motor Vehicles. "These rules expand our existing autonomous vehicle testing program to include testing vehicles where no driver is present," said DMV Director Jean Shiomoto. "This is the next step in eventually allowing driverless autonomous vehicles on California roadways." California took some heat earlier for seeking to stop testing of fully autonomous cars -- those in which a human is not physically on board.