SB 431, as amended, Beall. Vehicles: driver-assistive truck platooning.
Existing law prohibits a driver of a motor vehicle from following another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of the vehicle and the traffic upon, and the condition of, the roadway.
This bill would require a determination of a reasonable and prudent distance between 2 vehicles, for those purposes, to take into account presence of vehicle automation technology, as described.
Existing law requires motor vehicles being driven in a caravan or motorcade outside of a business or residence district to be operated so as to allow sufficient space, and in no event less than 100 feet, between each vehicle or combination of vehicles so as to enable any other vehicle to overtake or pass.
This bill would provide thatbegin delete the
above provision does not apply to a vehicle equipped with a driver-assistive truck platooning system, as defined, that is being driven upon a highway with 2 or more lanes of traffic in the direction of travel.end deletebegin insert a caravan or motorcade consists of 3 or more motor vehicles.end insert
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Vote: 2⁄3. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 21703 of the Vehicle Code is amended
2to read:
(a) The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow
4another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having
5due regard for the speed of the vehicle and the traffic upon, and
6the condition of, the roadway.
7(b) A determination of a reasonable and prudent distance
8between two vehicles for purposes of subdivision (a) shall take
9into account the presence of vehicle automation technology,
10including, but not limited to, a driver-assistive truck platooning
11system.
12(c) For the purposes of this section, “driver-assistive truck
13platooning system” means vehicle automation technology that
14integrates
sensor array, wireless communications, vehicle controls,
15and specialized software to synchronize acceleration and braking
16between two vehicles, while leaving each vehicle’s steering control
17and systems command in the control of its driver.
Section 21705 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
(a) Motor vehicles being driven outside of a business
20or residence district in a caravan or motorcade, whether or not
21towing other vehicles, shall be operated so as to allow sufficient
22space, and in no event less than 100 feet, between each vehicle or
23combination of vehicles so as to enable any other vehicle to
24overtake or pass.
25(b) (1) This section does not apply to a vehicle equipped with
26a driver-assistive truck platooning system that is being driven upon
27a highway with two or more lanes for traffic in the direction of
28travel.
29(2) For the purposes of this subdivision,
“driver-assistive truck
30platooning system” means vehicle automation technology that
31integrates sensor array, wireless communications, vehicle controls,
32and specialized software to synchronize acceleration and braking
P3 1between two vehicles, while leaving each vehicle’s steering control
2
and systems command in the control of its driver.
3(b) For purposes of this section, a caravan or motorcade
4consists of three or more motor vehicles.
This act is an urgency statute necessary for the
6immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within
7the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into
8immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
9In order to take advantage of federal funds that are currently
10available to states for the purpose of testing automated vehicle
11technologies on roads and highways, it is necessary that this act
12take effect immediately.
O
97