Boston

More Self Driving Cars Coming to Mass. Streets

Fifteen cities and towns signed an agreement to standardize the testing process

Autonomous car testing will soon expand in Massachusetts, after fifteen cities and towns signed an agreement to standardize the testing process.

Thursday’s announcement came just one day after Boston announced self-driving cars from Cambridge-based nuTonomy will be allowed to test its vehicles citywide.

Governor Charlie Baker joined Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack in Boston for the signing of the agreement, saying it helps bring the next generation of innovation and transportation to the Bay State.

Both arrived to the South Boston ceremonial signing in autonomous cars.

Secretary Pollack joked that Massachusetts is the best place to test these vehicles of the future because the state boasts “bad roads, bad weather, and worse drivers.”

On a more serious note she said there had been no safety issues with the tests so far in Massachusetts. In fact, officials hope road safety will improve if autonomous vehicles become more widespread since the vast majority of traffic crashes involve some element of human error. 

The fifteen cities and towns where testing will expand include: Arlington, Boston, Braintree, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Newton, Revere, Somerville, Weymouth, Winthrop, and Worcester.

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