Google’s computers have been officially recognised as the driver of the company’s self-driving cars, a major step towards the rise of autonomous vehicles.

The US National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it will recognise the car’s software as the “driver… if no human occupant of the vehicle can actually drive” in a letter to Google.

The decision could be a significant step towards the legal recognition of driverless cars and their liability for any incidents, which is crucial for their eventual appearance on public roads.

Since cars were invented, they have required a human at the wheel, who qualifies as its driver.