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WASHINGTON — As Silicon Valley and automakers attempt to steer the nation toward a future of driverless vehicles, a group of influential lawmakers remains concerned that bipartisan legislation now moving through Congress could leave consumers at risk by preventing states from demanding tighter safety regulations.

As self-driving vehicle experiments are launched in a few cities around the United States, Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler AG and a prominent auto supplier are launching a new one in the place that would seem most receptive: Silicon Valley.

Self-driving vehicles have traveled safely for 26,000 kilometers (16,156 miles) in test areas in China’s capital city, according to Beijing Innovation Centre for Mobility Intelligence, a service provider of road tests for autonomous vehicles.

Self-driving shuttle buses will be hauling riders around downtown Columbus later this year, a significant move as the city begins initiatives aimed at making it a “smart city” for transportation.

Preparing for autonomous vehicles on American roads will mean more than getting used to being in a car without a steering wheel.

It’s not just hands-free driving that self-guided cars may bring into reality. Autonomous vehicles could unleash new technological and economic development on a level not seen since the dawn of the space age.

Elon Musk has called lidar a crutch. The Tesla CEO believes he can build self-driving and semi-autonomous cars without relying on the technology, which uses lasers to help the cars map and navigate their surroundings.

The idea of TruKKer was born at a dinner table when Gaurav Biswas realized how hard it was to find a suitable truck at the right time at a reasonable cost. He was quick to spot a lucrative gap in the market, and the region’s first and fastest growing truck aggregator was born.

While many look to the coasts for the latest tech innovations, Ohio is making a move to be a driving force behind the development of autonomous vehicles.

Self-driving cars will soon be zipping across Boston after transportation officials granted one company permission to test their robotic cars outside the Seaport — with South Boston first up.