Driverless Vehicles Topic of Florida Summit

Transportation experts say advances in computer software, sensors and global positioning systems have made driverless vehicles possible for widespread use within a decade or so.

Florida’s Department of Transportation, along with the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research and other groups, hosted the first Florida Automated Vehicles Summit on Thursday and Friday to help position the state as a leader in putting driverless cars on the road.

The Tampa Bay Times reports that Florida is one of just three states that has passed legislation allowing automated vehicles to be tested on public roads. California and Nevada are the others.

Transportation leaders say automated vehicles would improve safety and decrease the costs associated with accidents.