>>> BACK NOW WITH OUR NBC NEWS

>>> BACK NOW WITH OUR NBC NEWS INVESTIGATION.

NBC NEWS INVESTIGATION. A MAJOR VOTE IN

INVESTIGATION. A MAJOR VOTE IN CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK

A MAJOR VOTE IN CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK COULD ALLOW MORE

CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK COULD ALLOW MORE DRIVERLESS CARS ON THE

COULD ALLOW MORE DRIVERLESS CARS ON THE ROAD IN SAN FRANCISCO.

DRIVERLESS CARS ON THE ROAD IN SAN FRANCISCO. BUT WE HAVE NEW

ROAD IN SAN FRANCISCO. BUT WE HAVE NEW DETAILS TONIGHT IN THE

BUT WE HAVE NEW DETAILS TONIGHT IN THE DANGERS THEY MAY POSE.

DETAILS TONIGHT IN THE DANGERS THEY MAY POSE. BIGAD SHABAN FROM OUR

DANGERS THEY MAY POSE. BIGAD SHABAN FROM OUR NBC BAY AREA STATION

BIGAD SHABAN FROM OUR NBC BAY AREA STATION KNTV EXPLAINS.

NBC BAY AREA STATION KNTV EXPLAINS. >> Reporter: NOW HANDS

KNTV EXPLAINS. >> Reporter: NOW HANDS ON THE WHEEL.

>> Reporter: NOW HANDS ON THE WHEEL. NO HANDS AT ALL.

ON THE WHEEL. NO HANDS AT ALL. OKAY, I JUST REQUESTED

NO HANDS AT ALL. OKAY, I JUST REQUESTED OUR RIDE, AND IT'S

OKAY, I JUST REQUESTED OUR RIDE, AND IT'S THREE MINUTES AWAY.

OUR RIDE, AND IT'S THREE MINUTES AWAY. >> Reporter: MORE THAN

THREE MINUTES AWAY. >> Reporter: MORE THAN 2,000 SELF-DRIVING

>> Reporter: MORE THAN 2,000 SELF-DRIVING CARS ARE ON THE ROAD

2,000 SELF-DRIVING CARS ARE ON THE ROAD IN CALIFORNIA.

CARS ARE ON THE ROAD IN CALIFORNIA. MOST HAVE A TEST

IN CALIFORNIA. MOST HAVE A TEST DRIVER INSIDE WHO CAN

MOST HAVE A TEST DRIVER INSIDE WHO CAN TAKE OVER WHEN NEEDED.

DRIVER INSIDE WHO CAN TAKE OVER WHEN NEEDED. BUT HUNDREDS OF CARS

TAKE OVER WHEN NEEDED. BUT HUNDREDS OF CARS HAVE NO ONE IN THE

BUT HUNDREDS OF CARS HAVE NO ONE IN THE FRONT SEAT AS THEY

HAVE NO ONE IN THE FRONT SEAT AS THEY MAKE DELIVERIES AND

FRONT SEAT AS THEY MAKE DELIVERIES AND SHUTTLE PASSENGERS.

MAKE DELIVERIES AND SHUTTLE PASSENGERS. WE TRIED A RIDE WITH

SHUTTLE PASSENGERS. WE TRIED A RIDE WITH CRUISE.

WE TRIED A RIDE WITH CRUISE. OWNED BY GM, IT'S ONE

CRUISE. OWNED BY GM, IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST RIDE

OWNED BY GM, IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST RIDE DRIVERLESS RIDE SHARES

OF THE LARGEST RIDE DRIVERLESS RIDE SHARES IN AMERICA, ALONG WITH

DRIVERLESS RIDE SHARES IN AMERICA, ALONG WITH ITS COMPETITOR WAYMO.

IN AMERICA, ALONG WITH ITS COMPETITOR WAYMO. BOTH HAVE ASKING FOR

ITS COMPETITOR WAYMO. BOTH HAVE ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO EXPAND

BOTH HAVE ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO EXPAND THEIR ROBOTAXI

PERMISSION TO EXPAND THEIR ROBOTAXI SERVICES INSIDE THE

THEIR ROBOTAXI SERVICES INSIDE THE STATE'S LARGEST

SERVICES INSIDE THE STATE'S LARGEST TESTING GROUNDS, SAN

STATE'S LARGEST TESTING GROUNDS, SAN FRANCISCO.

TESTING GROUNDS, SAN FRANCISCO. SO PASSENGERS CAN

FRANCISCO. SO PASSENGERS CAN REQUEST RIDES 24 HOURS

SO PASSENGERS CAN REQUEST RIDES 24 HOURS A DAY RIGHT FROM THEIR

REQUEST RIDES 24 HOURS A DAY RIGHT FROM THEIR PHONES.

A DAY RIGHT FROM THEIR PHONES. ONCE YOU ENTER YOUR

PHONES. ONCE YOU ENTER YOUR DESTINATION, THE CAR

ONCE YOU ENTER YOUR DESTINATION, THE CAR DOES THE REST.

DESTINATION, THE CAR DOES THE REST. YOU CAN'T TELL IT WHAT

DOES THE REST. YOU CAN'T TELL IT WHAT ROUTES TO TAKE OR

YOU CAN'T TELL IT WHAT ROUTES TO TAKE OR STREETS TO AVOID.

ROUTES TO TAKE OR STREETS TO AVOID. SO IF YOU'RE USED TO

STREETS TO AVOID. SO IF YOU'RE USED TO BEING A BACK SEAT

SO IF YOU'RE USED TO BEING A BACK SEAT DRIVER, YOU MIGHT WANT

BEING A BACK SEAT DRIVER, YOU MIGHT WANT TO FIND A CAR WITH A

DRIVER, YOU MIGHT WANT TO FIND A CAR WITH A FRONT SEAT DRIVER.

TO FIND A CAR WITH A FRONT SEAT DRIVER. AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES

FRONT SEAT DRIVER. AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES CAN DETECT CLOSED

AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES CAN DETECT CLOSED STREETS, DRIVE AROUND

CAN DETECT CLOSED STREETS, DRIVE AROUND DOUBLE-PARKED CARS,

STREETS, DRIVE AROUND DOUBLE-PARKED CARS, AND EVEN PULL OVER FOR

DOUBLE-PARKED CARS, AND EVEN PULL OVER FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES.

AND EVEN PULL OVER FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES. BUT GETTING

EMERGENCY VEHICLES. BUT GETTING CHAUFFEURED BY A ROBOT

BUT GETTING CHAUFFEURED BY A ROBOT ISN'T ALWAYS A SMOOTH

CHAUFFEURED BY A ROBOT ISN'T ALWAYS A SMOOTH RIDE.

ISN'T ALWAYS A SMOOTH RIDE. STATE TRANSPORTATION

RIDE. STATE TRANSPORTATION RECORDS OBTAINED BY

STATE TRANSPORTATION RECORDS OBTAINED BY NBC NEWS SHOW

RECORDS OBTAINED BY NBC NEWS SHOW SELF-DRIVING CARS HAVE

NBC NEWS SHOW SELF-DRIVING CARS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN 280

SELF-DRIVING CARS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN 280 CRASHES ACROSS

BEEN INVOLVED IN 280 CRASHES ACROSS CALIFORNIA OVER THE

CRASHES ACROSS CALIFORNIA OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

CALIFORNIA OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. RESULTING IN AT LEAST

PAST FIVE YEARS. RESULTING IN AT LEAST 64 INJURIES AND A DEAD

RESULTING IN AT LEAST 64 INJURIES AND A DEAD DOG.

64 INJURIES AND A DEAD DOG. THAT INCLUDES

DOG. THAT INCLUDES COLLISIONS WITH OTHER

THAT INCLUDES COLLISIONS WITH OTHER VEHICLES, BICYCLISTS,

COLLISIONS WITH OTHER VEHICLES, BICYCLISTS, AND CITY BUSES.

VEHICLES, BICYCLISTS, AND CITY BUSES. >> A SELF-DRIVING CAR

AND CITY BUSES. >> A SELF-DRIVING CAR RAN INTO ME, NO

>> A SELF-DRIVING CAR RAN INTO ME, NO DRIVER.

RAN INTO ME, NO DRIVER. >> Reporter: SOME

DRIVER. >> Reporter: SOME ACCIDENTS WERE CAUSED

>> Reporter: SOME ACCIDENTS WERE CAUSED BY OTHER PEOPLE ON THE

ACCIDENTS WERE CAUSED BY OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD, ACCORDING TO

BY OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD, ACCORDING TO CRASH REPORTS.

ROAD, ACCORDING TO CRASH REPORTS. HOW MANY IS UNCLEAR

CRASH REPORTS. HOW MANY IS UNCLEAR FROM THE DATA.

HOW MANY IS UNCLEAR FROM THE DATA. BUT THE CARS HAVE BEEN

FROM THE DATA. BUT THE CARS HAVE BEEN CONFUSED BY EMERGENCY

BUT THE CARS HAVE BEEN CONFUSED BY EMERGENCY SCENES, SOMETIMES

CONFUSED BY EMERGENCY SCENES, SOMETIMES PLOWING INTO CAUTION

SCENES, SOMETIMES PLOWING INTO CAUTION TAPE OR BLOCKING FIRE

PLOWING INTO CAUTION TAPE OR BLOCKING FIRE TRUCKS.

TAPE OR BLOCKING FIRE TRUCKS. WAYMO DIDN'T COMMENT,

TRUCKS. WAYMO DIDN'T COMMENT, BUT CRUISE TELLS US

WAYMO DIDN'T COMMENT, BUT CRUISE TELLS US AUTOMATION HAS SAFETY

BUT CRUISE TELLS US AUTOMATION HAS SAFETY BENEFITS.

AUTOMATION HAS SAFETY BENEFITS. >> OUR CARS DON'T

BENEFITS. >> OUR CARS DON'T DRIVE DRUNK.

>> OUR CARS DON'T DRIVE DRUNK. THEY DON'T GET

DRIVE DRUNK. THEY DON'T GET DISTRACTED.

THEY DON'T GET DISTRACTED. >> Reporter: ONE OF

DISTRACTED. >> Reporter: ONE OF THE LEADERS AT CRUISE.

>> Reporter: ONE OF THE LEADERS AT CRUISE. >> OUR VEHICLES ARE

THE LEADERS AT CRUISE. >> OUR VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED TO WHEN THEY

>> OUR VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED TO WHEN THEY APPROACH A SITUATION

DESIGNED TO WHEN THEY APPROACH A SITUATION THAT THEY AREN'T SURE

APPROACH A SITUATION THAT THEY AREN'T SURE ABOUT, THEY'RE

THAT THEY AREN'T SURE ABOUT, THEY'RE DESIGNED TO COME TO A

ABOUT, THEY'RE DESIGNED TO COME TO A SAFE STOP.

DESIGNED TO COME TO A SAFE STOP. >> BUT YOU WILL

SAFE STOP. >> BUT YOU WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT EVEN

>> BUT YOU WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT EVEN COMING TO A FULL STOP

ACKNOWLEDGE THAT EVEN COMING TO A FULL STOP CAN CREATE SAFETY

COMING TO A FULL STOP CAN CREATE SAFETY ISSUES TOO.

CAN CREATE SAFETY ISSUES TOO. >> Reporter: THE

ISSUES TOO. >> Reporter: THE TRAFFIC BLOCKAGES ARE

>> Reporter: THE TRAFFIC BLOCKAGES ARE NOT SOMETHING WE WANT

TRAFFIC BLOCKAGES ARE NOT SOMETHING WE WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN.

NOT SOMETHING WE WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN. >> Reporter: JUST

TO HAVE HAPPEN. >> Reporter: JUST HOURS AFTER THAT

>> Reporter: JUST HOURS AFTER THAT INTERVIEW, IT DID

HOURS AFTER THAT INTERVIEW, IT DID HAPPEN, TO US.

INTERVIEW, IT DID HAPPEN, TO US. OUR FIRST RIDE WITH

HAPPEN, TO US. OUR FIRST RIDE WITH CRUISE WENT AS

OUR FIRST RIDE WITH CRUISE WENT AS PLANNED.

CRUISE WENT AS PLANNED. BUT WE THEN INVITED A

PLANNED. BUT WE THEN INVITED A LONG-TIME DRIVING

BUT WE THEN INVITED A LONG-TIME DRIVING INSTRUCTOR, EUGENIA

LONG-TIME DRIVING INSTRUCTOR, EUGENIA BORGES TO JOIN US.

INSTRUCTOR, EUGENIA BORGES TO JOIN US. ON A SECOND RIDE.

BORGES TO JOIN US. ON A SECOND RIDE. ABOUT ONE MINUTE IN,

ON A SECOND RIDE. ABOUT ONE MINUTE IN, OUR CAR WAS AT A GREEN

ABOUT ONE MINUTE IN, OUR CAR WAS AT A GREEN LIGHT BUT WOULDN'T

OUR CAR WAS AT A GREEN LIGHT BUT WOULDN'T BUDGE.

LIGHT BUT WOULDN'T BUDGE. >> IT'S A VERY SAFE

BUDGE. >> IT'S A VERY SAFE SITUATION FOR THE CAR

>> IT'S A VERY SAFE SITUATION FOR THE CAR TO TURN, AND IT'S JUST

SITUATION FOR THE CAR TO TURN, AND IT'S JUST STAYING HERE.

TO TURN, AND IT'S JUST STAYING HERE. I'M NOT SURE WHY.

STAYING HERE. I'M NOT SURE WHY. >> Reporter: THE CAR

I'M NOT SURE WHY. >> Reporter: THE CAR EVENTUALLY INCHED

>> Reporter: THE CAR EVENTUALLY INCHED FORWARD BUT KEPT

EVENTUALLY INCHED FORWARD BUT KEPT STOPPING.

FORWARD BUT KEPT STOPPING. >> WE'RE KIND OF

STOPPING. >> WE'RE KIND OF RIDING IN TWO LANES.

>> WE'RE KIND OF RIDING IN TWO LANES. >> Reporter: THEN ALL

RIDING IN TWO LANES. >> Reporter: THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT HIT

>> Reporter: THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT HIT THE GAS.

OF THE SUDDEN IT HIT THE GAS. >> OH.

THE GAS. >> OH. >> OKAY.

>> OH. >> OKAY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S

>> OKAY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S DOING NOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S DOING NOW. >> Reporter: OUR CAR

DOING NOW. >> Reporter: OUR CAR DROVE STRAIGHT TOWARDS

>> Reporter: OUR CAR DROVE STRAIGHT TOWARDS THE MEDIAN AND JUST