Directs a study and report on the testing and operation of autonomous vehicles on public highways and directs the commissioner of the department of transportation to take action to support such testing and operation.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A10586 REVISED MEMO 09/20/16
SPONSOR: Rules (Rodriguez) TITLE OF BILL: An act to direct a study and report on the testing and
operation of autonomous vehicles on public highways
PURPOSE:
This bill would require the Department of Transportation to study and
report on the operation of autonomous vehicles by January 1, 2019, to
explore various strategies for implementing and regulating autonomous
vehicles.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1- Establishes a road usage charge advisory committee.
Section 2- Requires a report on findings and for government agencies to
amend laws to undertake steps to support the testing and operation of
autonomous vehicle technology.
Section 3- Effective Date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Experts predict that autonomous vehicles will be on the roads in five to
ten years. If implemented correctly, this technology can transform our
lives for the better. The cost of travel could be cut as much as eighty
percent. Since human error accounts for ninety percent of traffic acci-
dents, driverless cars are expected to sharply reduce crashes. Drivers'
commutes will transform from another chore to newfound free time. The
research and development of autonomous technology has the potential to
spur economic development and job creation.
But without responsible policies these improvements may not be realized.
The new found ease of driving could increase vehicle miles traveled in
the United States from three trillion to five trillion by 2050. This
spike could cause unprecedented congestion and pollution. Increased
reliance on vehicles could create unmitigated sprawl. And uninformed
policy changes can compound this damage. Some states have even inadvert-
ently hampered progress by enacting legislation out of touch with the
industry. Although a few states have successfully developed policies
that allow for testing and prepare for widespread driverless car use,
many experts in the field do not believe the policies are keeping pace
with technology. Clearly forward thinking policy changes grounded in
research are needed to ensure a successful rollout of autonomous vehi-
cles.
This bill begins this process in two ways. First, it requires the
department of transportation and Department of Motor Vehicles to inven-
tory and update current driving regulations to support implementation of
autonomous cars. This audit will modernize existing laws that could be
harmful to self-driving vehicles, such as our requirement that drivers
have at least one hand on the wheel at all times. Second, the bill
authorizes a study to begin answering key questions about technology
implementation. New York has the opportunity to greatly improve trans-
portation safety and efficiency by preparing for the impending future.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
None
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
10586
IN ASSEMBLY
June 7, 2016
___________
Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Rodriguez)
-- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to direct a study and report on the testing and operation of
autonomous vehicles on public highways
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Autonomous vehicle committee. (a) There is hereby created
2 the autonomous vehicle committee which shall guide the enactment of an
3 autonomous vehicle study to assess the future of autonomous vehicle
4 technology. For purposes of this act, "autonomous vehicle" shall mean a
5 motor vehicle that has the capability to drive the vehicle without the
6 active control or monitoring of a human operator.
7 (b) The autonomous vehicle committee shall consist of at least eight
8 members:
9 (1) The executive deputy commissioner of the department of motor vehi-
10 cles, or his or her designee, who shall serve as chair;
11 (2) A representative of the autonomous vehicle industry who shall be
12 appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
13 (3) A representative of highway user groups who shall be appointed by
14 the governor;
15 (4) A representative of regional transportation agencies who shall be
16 appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
17 (5) The chair of the assembly transportation committee, or his or her
18 designee;
19 (6) The chair of the senate transportation committee, or his or her
20 designee;
21 (7) A representative of the civic community who shall be appointed by
22 the governor;
23 (8) A representative of transit advocates who shall be appointed by
24 the governor; and
25 (9) Any other stakeholders identified by the department of motor vehi-
26 cles.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15494-01-6
A. 10586 2
1 (c) The autonomous vehicle committee shall study how to support the
2 testing and operation of autonomous vehicles on public highways. It
3 shall take all of the following into consideration:
4 (1) The measures necessary to successfully implement autonomous vehi-
5 cles, including any legislative changes.
6 (2) Difficulties and liabilities that could arise by allowing auton-
7 omous vehicles on public highways.
8 (3) How autonomous vehicle technology can promote research and devel-
9 opment in this state.
10 (4) Any other issue the committee deems relevant.
11 § 2. Report. (a) On or before January 1, 2019, the committee shall
12 report its findings and recommendations to the governor and the legisla-
13 ture. Such report shall include recommendations and such legislative
14 proposals as shall be deemed necessary.
15 (b) Prior to the completion of such report, the commissioner of the
16 department of transportation and the executive deputy commissioner of
17 the department of motor vehicles are authorized and directed to take
18 such actions as are necessary to support the testing and operation of
19 autonomous vehicles on public highways.
20 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
