This is unnecessarily dangerous. Investing in "pilot programs" might artificially push self-driving technology through quicker than it's ready for and might result, not only in death and accidents, but damaging the image of self driving cars and pushing the technology back even further. Just because you want something doesn't mean you should artificially push it faster than it can be produced. That's like injecting your children with steroids because you "want them to grow fast so they can be happy quicker and get a head start".

Government is great at creating incentives and opportunities through laws and letting the business, creators, investors compete for the top stop. But choosing winners, artificially jump-starting pilot projects that would under normal market conditions not be created, is not what governments are meant for. We've talked about this on HN before during the Solyndra bankruptcy.

If they really want to help, give a tax cut for companies doing research, and sit down with all the parties interested in self-driving cars and ask them what laws or regulations are holding them back.

Plus we don't want this to turn into another Solyndra. http://www.dailytech.com/500+Million+Wasted+on+Bankrupt+Sola...