California has seen autonomous, or driverless, cars being tested on its streets for a while now, but should a new proposal by the Department of Motor Vehicles be approved, these driverless cars will need a driver before they can be allowed to run.

Tech Crunch reports that the California DMV has released a proposal that requires drivers to be present inside the driverless car when it runs on the road.

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This new proposal will be limiting autonomous driving, such as the idea of sending kids off to school or picking them up without a driver, or having some pizza (or other items) delivered to the doorstep without the need for a paid delivery truck/car driver.

According to Time, the new proposal doesn't only restrict the use of driverless cars without drivers. It states that the driver has to have full control of the car – complete with hands on the steering wheel and feet to the pedals. Should there be none of these, the autonomous vehicle will not be allowed.

In addition to what seems to be an already added prerequisite, only those who have been given an “autonomous vehicle operator certificate” will be allowed to drive. Apparently, driverless cars need to be driven by someone licensed twice.

This proposal, according to USA Today, has disappointed tech giant Google. The company has been testing driverless cars in California roads for a while, and has even designed a prototype for a two-person vehicle that has no steering wheel or pedals.

Google said that this proposal is setting a “ceiling” that limits the potential for fully-autonomous vehicles to be developed and used at its fullest.

These driverless vehicles were meant to change the idea of mobility for people, and might help either by lowering the number of accidents caused by human error, or by helping those who are unable to drive get to a place they need to be.

TagsDriverless Cars, california, department of motor vehicles, autonomous vehicles, autonomous vehicle operator license