Google's new driverless car took to the road Thursday downtown with Councilmembers Mary Cheh and Tommy Wells each taking a turn behind the wheel.

The Google car, which uses data collected through Google's street view map network, video cameras, a rooftop sensor and artifical intelligence software to navigate, is not yet legal in D.C. But the Department of Motor Vehicles gave a special permission for the Thursday test-drive.

The car does have options for a driver to take control by stepping on the brake or turning the wheel.

Just last week Google's blue Toyota Prius, tagged with California license plates, was parked on 30th Street in Georgetown.

The Nevada state legislature was the first in the country to permit testing of driverless cars, according to a press release from Cheh's office.