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Uber approved to resume autonomous car tests

FILE - This file photo provided by the Tempe Police Department shows an Uber SUV after hitting a woman on March 18, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. Nearly eight months after one of its autonomous test vehicles hit and killed an Arizona pedestrian, Uber wants to resume testing on public roads. The company has filed an application with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to test in Pittsburgh, and it has issued a lengthy safety report pledging to put two human backup drivers in each vehicle and take a raft of other precautions to make the vehicles safe. Company officials acknowledge they have a long way to go to regain public trust after the March 18 crash in Tempe, Arizona, that killed Elaine Herzberg, as she crossed a darkened road outside the lines of a crosswalk. (Tempe Police Department via AP, File)

PITTSBURGH — Pennsylvania's Department of Transportation has approved Uber's request to resume testing autonomous vehicles on public roads in the Pittsburgh area.

The approval was effective Monday and lasts one year. It comes about nine months after one of Uber's autonomous test vehicles hit and killed a pedestrian in Arizona.

A department spokeswoman says Uber can test throughout Allegheny County, where Pittsburgh is located.

If Uber's cars go more than 25 mph, they must have a second human backup driver on board.

One human backup is allowed at speeds below 25 mph.

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Uber spokeswoman Sarah Abboud confirmed the approval but declined to say when the testing would resume.

Pennsylvania suspended testing after the fatal crash March 18 in Tempe, Arizona.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.