Self-Driving Google Cars Reach Public Roads This Summer

May 15, 2015 11:28 AM EDT | Matt Mercuro

California drivers, get ready: Google's self-driving cars are hitting public roads this summer after the tech giant's fleet of test rides completed more than a million driverless miles.

While safety drivers will be inside the pod-like rides as they cruise around public roads in the Mountain View area of Cali, the new prototypes will feature the same software found in the Lexus RX450H test SUVs, according to a Google blog post.

The cars will also come with a removable steering wheel, a brake pedal, and accelerator pedal so that safety drivers can take over when needed. If all goes according to plan drivers won't have to do a thing.

"We're looking forward to learning how the community perceives and interacts with the vehicles, and to uncovering challenges that are unique to a fully self-driving vehicle-e.g., where it should stop if it can't stop at its exact destination due to construction or congestion," said Chris Urmson, Director, Google Self-Driving Car Project, according to Google's post.

Each car can only drive at speeds of up to 25 mph so you don't have to worry about a self-driving Google car speeding around your neighborhood blasting music like a hooligan.

In the future, Google is hoping to run pilot programs with its vehicles to figure out what people would like to do with self-driving cars. 

The news comes the same week Google announced 11 of its self-driving cars have been involved in accidents since testing began six years ago.

Check out a new video released by Google this week to get more information on the new prototypes. 

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