California approves law for Google's driverless cars

California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed a law on Tuesday that will allow Google and other companies to operate driverless cars there.

Brown signed the law at an event at Google's headquarters in Mountain View.

“Autonomous vehicles are another example of how California’s technological leadership is turning today’s science fiction into tomorrow’s reality,” Brown said. “This law will allow California’s pioneering engineers to safely test and implement this amazing new technology.”

The law allows people to operate a driverless car for testing purposes, provided that a licensed driver is behind the wheel to take control if necessary. The law instructs the Department of Motor Vehicles to adopt regulations to oversee the licensing and testing of driverless cars for the public.

Google co-founder Sergey Brin joined Brown at the event.

“Self-driving cars can transform lives and communities — providing transportation to those not currently served, increasing safety on the road, reducing or eliminating congestion, and turning parking into parkland,” Brin said.

---