Japan's National Police Agency on Thursday released a list of rules governing the testing of driverless cars on public roads. The regulations will officially take effect by the end of May, pending feedback from the public. It is the first time the agency has greenlighted the use of such vehicles on public roads. Once the rules are officially endorsed, companies and research institutes will be able to test their cars in real traffic situations. A company must meet three conditions to receive a test permit from the NPA: The technology has already been tested on a track; the test vehicle is equipped with a telecommunications system; and the driving conditions during testing can be monitored remotely with the same degree of precision as a person sitting in the driver's seat.