The Latest: Advocates for blind lobby for driverless cars

The Latest on a hearing on driverless cars in California (all times local):

11:25 a.m.

Advocates for the blind are asking California's Department of Motor Vehicles to allow them access to self-driving cars sooner rather than later.

The DMV is wrestling with how to bring the technology to the public safely.

At a Thursday workshop in Sacramento, several people said the technology could change the lives of those who cannot now drive.

Jessie Lorenz is blind. She told DMV regulators that she now has to take public transit to get her 4-year-old daughter to school. She'd like to take her in a self-driving car.

The DMV is seeking public input on draft regulations the agency released last month. Those regulations will govern the cars' eventual rollout to residents, once they get past prototype testing.

So far, the agency has taken a cautious approach.

11 a.m.

Companies that are developing self-driving cars of the future want government regulators to clear the road for public access to the technology, once it emerges from prototype testing.

California's Department of Motor Vehicles is wrestling with how to keep the public safe as the imperfect technology matures—but not regulate so heavily that the agency stifles development of vehicles with potentially huge safety benefits.

On Thursday, DMV officials in Sacramento began hearing from advocates and skeptics with strong opinions about precedent-setting draft regulations the agency released last month. Those regulations will govern the cars' eventual rollout to residents.

So far, the agency has taken a cautious approach—one that Google in particular says will stymie the technology.

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12:30 a.m.

Companies that are developing self-driving cars of the future want government regulators to clear the road for public access to the technology.

California's Department of Motor Vehicles is wrestling with how to keep the public safe as an imperfect technology matures—but not regulate so heavily that the agency stifles the development of vehicles with potentially huge safety benefits.

On Thursday, DMV officials in Sacramento will hear from advocates and skeptics with strong opinions about precedent-setting draft regulations the agency released last month. Those regulations will govern the cars' rollout to residents, once they emerge from current prototype testing.

So far, the agency has taken a cautious approach that Google in particular says will hamper the technology.

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