Taking the wheel.

• Author: Essex, Amanda
• Position: TRENDS

Autonomous vehicles are no longer the stuff of science fiction. Also known as driverless, self-driving or robotic cars, they are a reality on roads today, as companies increasingly test them in real traffic. State and local governments are promoting this new, potentially huge, industry while fielding questions over safety, which roads the cars should be allowed to use, how insurance should apply and more.

A partnership in Virginia would make the state a leader in research and development of automated-vehicle technology. The Virginia Department of Transportation and the Department of Motor Vehicles will team up with the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, toll-road developer Transurban and Nokia's mapping business to develop a state-of-the-art test facility and dedicated high-occupancy toll lanes along a couple of interstates.

Sixteen states introduced legislation related to autonomous vehicles in 2015. That's up from 12 states in 2014, nine states and D.C. in 2013 and six states in 2012.

Nevada was the first state to authorize the vehicles in 2011. Since then, legislatures in California, Florida, Michigan, North Dakota, Tennessee and...