AB 1592, as amended, Bonilla. Autonomous vehicles: pilot project.
Existing law permits the operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads for testing purposes if, among other requirements, a driver is seated in the driver’s seat and is capable of taking immediate manual control of the vehicle in the event of an autonomous technology failure or other emergency.
This bill would, notwithstanding the above provision, authorize the Contra Costa Transportation Authority to conduct a pilot project for the testing of autonomous vehicles that do not have an operator and are not equipped with a steering wheel, a brake pedal, or an accelerator if the testing is conducted only at specified locations and the autonomous vehicle operates at speeds of less than 35 miles per hour. The bill would require the authority or a private entity, or a combination of the two, to obtain an instrument of insurance, surety bond, or
proof of self-insurance in an amount of $5,000,000 prior to the start of testing of any autonomous vehicle on or across a public road and would require evidence of the insurance, surety bond, or proof of self-insurance to be provided to the Department of Motor Vehicles in the form and manner required by the department.begin delete The bill would allow the department to require the submission of information and data regarding the testing of autonomous vehicles tested pursuant to these
provisions.end delete The bill would require the operator of the autonomous vehicle technology to disclose what personal information concerning a pilot project participant is collected by an autonomous vehicle.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 38755 is added to the Vehicle Code, to
2read:
(a) Notwithstanding Section 38750, the Contra Costa
4Transportation Authority is authorized to conduct a pilot project
5for the testing of autonomous vehicles that do not have an operator
6and are not equipped with a steering wheel, a brake pedal, or an
7accelerator provided the following requirements are met:
8(1) The testing shall be conducted only at a privately owned
9business park designated by the authority, inclusive of public roads
10within the designated business park, and at GoMentum Station
11located within the boundaries of the former Concord Naval
12Weapons Station.
13(2) The autonomous vehicle shall operate at
speeds of less than
1435 miles per hour.
15 15(3)
end delete
16begin insert(b)end insert A change in ownership of the property comprising the
17GoMentum Station shall not affect the authorization to conduct
18testing pursuant to this section.
18 19(b)
end delete
20begin insert(c)end insert Prior to the start of the testing of an autonomous vehicle that
21does not
have an operator on or across a public road, the Contra
22Costa Transportation Authority or a private entity, or a combination
P3 1of the two, shall obtain an instrument of insurance, surety bond,
2or proof of self-insurance in an amount of five million dollars
3($5,000,000), and shall provide evidence of the insurance, surety
4bond, or proof of self-insurance to the Department of Motor
5Vehicles in the form and manner required by the department.
16 6(c)
end delete
7begin insert(d)end insert The operator of the autonomous vehicle technology tested
8pursuant to this section shall disclose to an individual who
9participates in the pilot project
what personal information, if any,
10concerning the pilot project participant is collected by an
11autonomous vehicle.
12(d) The department may require the submission of information
13and data regarding the testing of autonomous vehicles tested
14pursuant to this section.
15(e) This section does not limit the authority of the department
16to promulgate regulations governing the testing and operation of
17autonomous vehicles on public roads, with or without the presence
18of a driver inside the vehicle, pursuant to Section 38750.
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