GM, Toyota says US rules limiting self-driving cars need to be eased

WASHINGTON: General Motors Co and Toyota Motor Corp officials will tell a US House panel that automakers need changes to automotive safety rules to allow the deployment of self-driving cars on American roads. 

"Without changes to those regulations, it may be years before the promise of today’s technology can be realised and thousands of preventable deaths that could have been avoided will happen," said Mike Abelson, vice president of global strategy at GM, in written testimony released Feb 13. "It is imperative that manufacturers have the ability to test these vehicles in greater numbers."