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Google Tests Driver-Free Cars Across Bay Area

MOUNTAIN VIEW (KCBS) - Google is road-testing cars that steer, stop and start without a human driver.

The Silicon Valley firm said they already have driverless cars on the road with trained operators inside that have logged 140,000 miles.

Industry analyst John McElroy of Autoline Daily said the race is on to get this technology to market.

"I think the first customers who will really pay for this technology are elderly people," he said. "Especially people who are in their 80s, maybe even in their 90s, who maybe shouldn't be driving anymore, but do not want to give up their mobility and freedom."

Google said the self-driving cars use GPS, video cameras, radar sensors and lasers to navigate the roads.

McElroy said he believes affordable, driverless cars will be in showrooms by 2020.

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