Google Self-Driving Car Boss Wants Tech To Become Mainstream In Five Years

Google's self-driving car chief has revealed the motivation for ensuring that the tech is mainstream within five years.

Speaking at the TED conference in Vancouver, Chris Urmson said his eldest son was 11-years-old and due to take his driving test in "four and a half years".

"My team are committed to making sure that doesn't happen," he said.

Urmson also laid out Google's commitment to fully automated cars. He went on to add that while technology that assists drivers can help reduce some accidents, only completely self-driving cars will fully address safety concerns.

"Some 1.2 million people are killed on the roads around the world each year. That number is equivalent to a jet falling out of the sky every day."

The incremental changes some car-makers are introducing are not enough, he added.

"That is not to say that driver-assistance cars won't be useful but if we are really going to make changes to our cities, get rid of parking lots, we need self-drive cars," Urmson said.

Initially Google had unveiled a model with a steering wheel that allowed humans to take over if needed but the current design unveiled last year at Code Conference is fully self-driving.

The company is currently logging three million miles in simulators every day, in addition to its real-world driving tests, Re/code reported.