Uber Brings Self-Driving Fleet to San Fran

CARS.COM — To appropriate Scott McKenzie’s 1967 hippie anthem in the autonomous age: If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to beware when you book your fare; if you’re going to San Francisco, you’re gonna meet some self-driving taxis there.

Would you let Uber use you as a guinea pig as it tests its nascent self-driving car program on the hilly, frequently foggy, often chaotic San Fran streets? Well, now’s your chance: The ride-sharing company launched a small fleet of autonomous Volvo SUVs in the City by the Bay today as an expansion of a pilot program — begun in Pittsburgh in September — to help identify and eliminate problems before bringing it to the masses.

Related: Uber Launches Test of Autonomous Cars in Pittsburgh

According to The Associated Press, California law requires a test permit for self-driving prototype vehicles — which Uber doesn’t have, arguing it doesn’t need one because a human monitor is on board. The Uber employee behind the wheel can take over in the event the technology fails.

Would-be riders can opt out if they’re paired with a driverless vehicle and do not wish to be, but the fare will be the same either way.

Get the full story via The Detroit News here.