Google’s hope of creating an autonomous car without steering controls has hit a bump in the road, thanks to new motoring rules being introduced in California.

The tech giant unveiled their prototype ‘driverless’ vehicle, which does not feature a steering wheel, or accelerator and brake pedals, in May this year.

But California’s Department of Motor Vehicles is implementing new rules which require a driver to be able to take “immediate physical control” of a vehicle on public roads if need be – meaning that the Google car is not equipped for legal testing.

The company has told The Wall Street Journal that they do intend to comply with the ruling, however, by building a temporary steering wheel and pedal system that can be used during testing.

“With these additions, our safety drivers can test the self-driving features, while having the ability to take control of the vehicle if necessary,” said Google spokeswoman Courtney Hohne.

The autonomous cars have their speed capped at 25 mph to make them easier to control and reduce the risk of damage in the case of any accidents.

Google are building around 100 of the prototype, and hopes to be able to have them available for testing by the public on California’s roads in a couple of years.

The Department of Motor Vehicles’ Bernard Soriano said that rules are being drafted for those tests, which will allow for cars without steering wheels or pedals.