Riders in New Jersey who want to call an autonomous cab will have to wait as long as five years under the legislation proposed in the state senate and assembly.

The proposal, approved by the Senate Transportation Committee on Nov. 10 and now before the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, would create a five-year pilot program requiring three years of on-road testing with a human driver in the vehicle.

The delay was criticized by advocates for blind individuals and by a company that operates autonomous ride services in other U.S. cities.

Critics say the mandate would block access to technology already in use elsewhere, including in New York, where Waymo began testing in August.

Residents of some New Jersey cities have already seen Waymo vehicles mapping their streets in prepar

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