Don't be surprised to look over into the next lane and discover that the car next to you has no driver, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
City Manager Sheryl Sculley says San Antonio has been approached about testing driverless cars.
"Some companies from the autonomous vehicle industry have expressed interest in testing in San Antonio," Sculley said.
Fredericksburg Road, which is currently a major route for the VIA Primo Bus Rapid Transit route, has been tabbed as a prime location for the testing of driverless vehicles.
The Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University has been tabbed by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to conduct a major test of improving the safety of driverless cars.
“These NHTSA projects will certainly help us have a better understanding of the challenges we face as we see increased levels of vehicle automation,” says John Sullivan, head of UMTRI’s Human Factors Group. “Through this research funding, NHTSA is also interested in determining just what benefits automation will bring, especially as it concerns safety.”
1200 WOAI news reported last week that San Antonio and Austin transportation planners are investigating the possibility of adding an 'autonomous vehicle only' lane in a long range plan to expand 120 miles of I-35 between San Antonio and north of Austin.
"The intent our RFI (Request for Information) is to gather data to assist the city in understanding the feasibility of autonomous vehicles for specific cases within the city," Sculley said.
She said he hopes to have the first information from the driverless vehicle development firms by the end of August.