Bill > H2977

This bill authorizes the operation of autonomous vehicles, defined as vehicles equipped with "autonomous technology" that allows them to drive without constant human control or monitoring, though it excludes vehicles with only advanced driver assistance systems like cruise control or lane keeping. A licensed driver is considered the operator of an autonomous vehicle when they engage its autonomous technology, even if they are not physically present. Such vehicles must meet federal standards, have accessible controls to engage/disengage autonomous mode, a visual indicator when in use, and alerts for the operator to take control if a system failure occurs, all while complying with state traffic laws. Federal regulations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will take precedence if they conflict with this bill. The bill also permits manufacturers to test autonomous vehicles with a human operator present to monitor and intervene, or on closed courses, requiring $5 million in insurance or surety for testing on public roads, and it shields original vehicle manufacturers from liability for defects caused by third-party autonomous conversions unless the defect existed in the original vehicle. Finally, it mandates a report by February 12, 2015, recommending further legislative or regulatory actions for the safe testing and operation of these vehicles.