![Rural Minnesota Towns Consider Driverless Car Technology](http://townsquare.media/site/68/files/2017/03/minnesota-road-go.jpg?w=630&h=420&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
Rural Minnesota Towns Consider Driverless Car Technology
GRAND RAPIDS (AP) _ A researcher says rural Minnesota residents could benefit from driverless cars.
Minnesota Public Radio News reports that Frank Douma from the University of Minnesota created a task force last year to examine how to give residents across the state access to self-driving vehicles.
Douma says that while many think of driverless vehicles being a possibility in cities or suburbs, he says they could also benefit rural communities. He says people who can't drive because of disabilities or financial obstacles, as well as older drivers could benefit from self-driving technologies.
Douma predicts such vehicles could be on the road by 2025 or 2030. He says the vehicles could improve the state's rural transit systems and cut down on recruitment and drivers' salary expenses.
More From AM 1240 WJON
![What You Need To Know Before Coming To Pierz Freedom Fest!](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2024/07/attachment-GettyImages-2157706745.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![How Much Minnesotans Pay For Energy Usage, Compared](http://townsquare.media/site/66/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-24.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Yum Or Yuck? Iconic Minnesota Brand Just Released Its Newest Flavor](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2024/07/attachment-hannes-johnson-via-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Good Directions? The ‘Charlie’s Cafe’ House In Freeport Is Gone](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2024/07/attachment-Google-Maps-Freeport.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Tick Alert: Lone Star Species Poses New Health Risks in Minnesota](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2024/07/attachment-Image-Credit-Weston-M-and-Erik-Karits-via-Unsplash-and-CANVA.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Kid’s Like To Fish? This Local Retailer Is Hosting A Kid’s Fishing Day](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2024/07/attachment-Fleet-Farm-Google-Maps.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Chris Lane Set To ‘Par-Tee’ It Up & Perform At This Year’s 3M Open](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2024/07/attachment-GettyImages-2151506270.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Minnesota Motorist Cited After Being Caught Going 106MPH](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2024/07/attachment-Image-Credit-Canva-Kenny-Eliason-via-Unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Local Bar Looking For ‘Sexy Fat Men’ & Incredibly Dirty Vehicles](http://townsquare.media/site/65/files/2024/07/attachment-Image-Credit-Canva-ehimetalor-akhere-unuabona-via-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)