Bill > SB320

This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation to establish a pilot program for the use of autonomous truck-mounted attenuators (ATMAs) in mobile work zones, which are defined as areas where continuous or intermittent highway maintenance or construction operations, such as roadway striping or pothole repair, are advancing at a speed of no more than 25 miles per hour. During this pilot program, ATMAs can operate autonomously within active mobile work zones on state-maintained highways, provided they are in a leader-follower configuration and continuously monitored by a remote operator who can visually observe the ATMA's surroundings and control its movement. This means a human driver is not required to be physically present in the ATMA while it's operating autonomously in the work zone, though they must drive the ATMA manually when traveling to or from these zones. Before any ATMA can be used in the pilot program, it must successfully pass testing approved by the Department to ensure reliable performance. The Department is also required to submit an annual report on the pilot program's progress and effectiveness to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Transportation. This pilot program is set to expire on December 31, 2031.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB320