Street Bots should pass their Driving Test

Sure, a Bot can pass the driving test and be licensed it for Green Lane mobility. Any Bot worth its technology should be able to read an eye chart, speak fair English (or Spanish), know the driving rules, and pass the street test. I think the DARPA Urban challenge finishers are up to passing a driving license test. We can give the written test electronically.

Then we have a fair playing field, Bot manufacturers can build the variety of vehicles to meet diverse needs, from TramBots to TaxiBots to CargoBots; each gaining rights to the Green Lane. Such a fair and transparent licensing scheme pushes the industry into high gear, almost right away.

Start with California, because California is so broke anyway, they will try it. The Gubinator is open for business. We can apply a very hefty Bot tax, say $5,000/vehicle, plus mileage. By charging Bot a high entry fee, we get the enthusiasm of cities, like my home town, Fresno,CA. The industry essentially buys off the City Council here, each meter of Green Paint represents new taxes, better jobs, more efficiency, and a more complacent population.

The City Council here reads my blog, well, one or two assistants. We could probably push through a trial here, if we could get high per mile fees to the city. Another thing that politically helps the Bots would be delivering food to the homeless.