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Michigan Might Match Florida’s Driverless Rules

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Burney Simpson

The Michigan legislature may soon consider a proposal that would allow the state to match the freewheeling driverless vehicle laws just enacted by Florida.

Michigan now allows the testing of autonomous cars on its roads under certain conditions by certain operators, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Michigan’s state Sen. Mike Kowall plans to introduce a bill that would jettison the testing requirement for the operation of driverless vehicles on the state’s roads, according to a report from Crain’s Detroit Business.

In April Florida enacted a law that gives those with a driver’s license the right to operate an autonomous vehicle on its roads without any testing requirement.

The potential Florida/Michigan match-up is the latest in the competition between the states for autonomous driving bragging rights and research dollars. States from Massachusetts to California are opening driverless test tracks or considering loosening rules for firms seeking to develop the technology in their borders.

Kowall, a Republican from White Lake and the Senate’s Majority Floor Leader, has already introduced a bill that would make it a felony to intentionally damage and/or take control of the computer system of a motor vehicle.

And in March the Michigan Senate passed a Kowall resolution calling for the adoption of intelligent transportation system technology throughout Michigan, and urged further testing of autonomous and connected vehicles.

Kowall told Crain’s he plans to introduce a series of bills on driverless vehicles that would discard the rules requiring testing, set insurance liability requirements for connected vehicle equipment manufacturers, and officially name the American Center for Mobility in Ypsilanti, Mich., a national center for the study of autonomous and connected vehicle technology.

FLORIDA SUN SHINES ON DRIVERLESS CARS

Florida300aOther states aren’t standing idly by, nor are they waiting for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to release its state policy guidelines on driverless vehicles this summer.

Florida roared ahead when it allowed the operation of autonomous vehicles on its roads by someone with a valid driver’s license (See “Florida Takes Brakes Off Driverless Tech”).

That law removes a previous testing requirement, and it allows the ‘driver’ to operate the vehicle even if she is not physically in the vehicle.

Tennessee last week enacted a bill allowing for the live testing of driverless vehicles that have been certified by the state, as long as a driver is present in the vehicle that has certain safety equipment installed. The law also creates a per-mile tax structure for the vehicles.

Tennessee calls itself the leading state for automotive manufacturing with GM, Nissan, Volkswagen, parts supplier Denso, and many others operating plants there.

Massachusetts is reportedly preparing to allow the testing of autonomous vehicles at a 60-acre site on the decommissioned Devens military base about an hour from Boston (“Driverless Testing in Massachusetts ‘in a Few Weeks’”).

Devens would be convenient for autonomous researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Volpe Transportation Systems Center.

That could compete with Michigan’s 335-acre American Center for Mobility that could become a big brother to Ann Arbor’s 32-acre Mcity autonomous vehicle test site that opened in 2015.

Michigan and Florida, along with California, Nevada and the District of Columbia, have enacted legislation allowing for the operation of driverless vehicles on their roads.

GOLDEN STATE SEES GOLD IN DRIVERLESS TECH

CaliforniaMap1California has approved 12 firms to conduct driverless testing. Many of the global auto OEMs and Tier 1 auto suppliers have operations in Silicon Valley.

The California General Assembly this month moved on several proposals that would reduce the authority of the state Department of Motor Vehicles over autonomous vehicles.

Some legislators have argued the DMV is hindering the development of the technology with unnecessary regulations (See “California Pols to DMV: Relax Draft Driverless Regs”).

Last week a bill that would require the DMV to hold public hearings on the NHTSA guidelines was approved by a 76 to 0 margin. Sponsor Assemblywoman Ling Ling Change has made no secret that she believes the DMV needs to get out of the way.

And the Transportation Committee approved AB 2862 that would allow the testing of autonomous vehicles without a driver, steering wheel, and brake and accelerator pedals. Autonomous testing leader Google had a hissy fit when the DMV in December released draft rules requiring such equipment.

The governors of Arizona and Virginia last year allowed for greater testing on their roads, while North Dakota and Utah have called for further research on autonomous vehicles.

Photos by Michigan Municipal League, 2011; California_map by Julie Jordan Scott, 2010; Florida February 2008 by Image Editor.

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UPDATE: Tennessee Senate Votes on Driverless Proposal SB 1561

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Jennifer van der Kleut

Editor’s Note: The Tennessee Senate passed an amended version of this proposal 30-0 on April 13, and it heads to the House side.

The state Senate of Tennessee is expected to vote this week on whether to approve a proposed bill that would legalize testing of driverless cars on public roads-and industry analysts are optimistic it will pass.

According to the local Tennessee news website BrentwoodHomepage.com, the bill, SB 1561, “will be the first in the U.S. to codify the definition of autonomy, expanding the definition of a driver to include that a human isn’t required to control the vehicle.”

The bill, authored by state Senator Mark Green (R-Clarksville), has been revised several times to painstakingly define the technology, news reports said.

To ensure the utmost safety, and also streamline the process for testing autonomous cars in the state, the bill establishes a new certification program that will be administered by the Department of Safety for AV manufacturers to go through before they can be sold, tested or operated in the state.

In addition to being a positive step in transportation progress for the state-one Green hopes will encourage automakers to start manufacturing autonomous cars in Tennessee-SB 1561 will also generate a little bit of revenue for the state. The bill requires the state’s Department of Safety to establish a fee for applications for autonomous vehicles, including a 1-cent-per-mile driven tax structure for autonomous vehicles with two axles, and a $0.026-per-mile driven tax structure for those with more than two axles, BrentwoodHomepage.com reports.

Director of Audi Government Affairs in D.C., Brad Stertz, told BrentwoodHomepage.com he thinks laws like Green’s bill are smart, and the right way to go about moving toward and preparing for autonomous vehicles at a reasonable pace.

“[We’ve seen] lawmakers want to regulate the cars that might be here in 25 years, not the ones that will be here in two years,” Stertz said. “If you try to regulate that far in the future, you don’t know where technology is going to go and how fast it will advance. A key thing is that we don’t think this technology will evolve any faster than the comfort level of the customers who will be using it.”

Tennessee’s state senate is currently scheduled to vote on SB 1561 Wednesday morning, April 6. If approved, autonomous vehicles could begin testing in the state by January.

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California Ratchets Up the Driverless Battle

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The battle among states for driverless-vehicle technology and testing dollars is heating up.

California Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang last week introduced a proposal that she says will keep the state in the forefront of developing autonomous technology.

The Republican from Diamond Bar introduced AB 2682 that would require the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles to hold hearings if the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposes a model state policy on driverless vehicles.

NHTSA has said it plans to announce the policy this year.

California has been a driverless leader with Mountain View-based Google working on its vehicles for over five years in the Golden State.

However, Google has been frustrated by driverless proposals by the California DMV that would require equipment like steering wheels, and that drivers have special certificates to operate the vehicles.

Google believes the proposals are onerous while the DMV argues the rules should be tough as the revolutionary technology evolves.

BUSINESS-FRIENDLY STATES

Chang’s proposal presumably would open up the DMV’s rule-making process.

“The DMV is not exactly known for being an incubator for high-tech,” Chang said in a press release. “We are competing with business-friendly states like Texas to keep the tech in California so we need to make sure we don’t lose another opportunity for keeping jobs in California – and potential federal funding.”

Google began testing in Texas last year, and U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has asked for $4 billion to speed the development of driverless vehicles.

States are also competing for testing dollars.

California’s Silicon Valley is home to the GoMentum Station and its 20 miles of test roads. Michigan opened the 32-acre Mcity facility in Ann Arbor in July, and plans to develop the massive Willow Run site in Ypsilanti (See “Michigan Launches 330-Acre Autonomous Vehicle Test Site”).

Another major player is the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. It is expanding its well-established auto testing operations in Blacksburg to the highly-congested Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.

TENNESSEE – AIN’T NO PLACE I’D RATHER BE

Also last week, the Tennessee Senate’s Transportation and Safety Committee approved SB 1561 that would allow driverless testing in the state. The full Senate is to hear the bill this Wednesday.

Tennessee state Sen. Mark Green said he introduced the proposal to encourage auto OEMs to expand their manufacturing in the state (See “Careful Steps on Driverless Laws for Tennessee, Virginia”).

Tennessee is already home to plants operated by GM, Nissan, and Volkswagen, along with the Tier 1 supplier Denso.

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Careful Steps on Driverless Laws for Tennessee, Virginia

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Burney Simpson

State legislatures in Tennessee and Virginia are working methodically in their review of driverless technology laws.

For now, the focus is on ensuring that the language of any new law fits current definitions and statutes covering vehicle technology and driver requirements.

“There’s excitement and cautiousness. (People) get concerned when you talk about a fully autonomous vehicle,” said Del. Glenn Davis, a Republican in the Virginia General Assembly.

Right now states are hesitant to pass any rules on driverless technology, said Anne Teigen, a program principal, and policy specialist transportation, with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).

“The challenge for the states is that they want to react but they don’t want to stifle innovation. They are trying to find a balance,” said Teigen.

Teigen in January updated the NCSL’s page devoted to autonomous legislation, noting there were then 32 proposals in state legislatures related to the vehicles. The website doesn’t cover connected vehicle activity.

In Tennessee, state Sen. Mark Green introduced SB 1561 that would allow road testing of the driverless vehicles. Green argues this will encourage auto manufacturers to start building the cars in the state.

GM, Nissan, and Volkswagen, and Tier 1 supplier Denso already operate manufacturing plants in Tennessee.

Green declined to share names but says he has had discussions with auto OEMs and suppliers on driverless testing in the Volunteer State.

The bill is far from a sure thing. Green must rewrite some of the language so a driverless vehicle operator meets the state’s definition of a vehicle driver. He plans to officially propose it to the Senate Transportation Committee in a few weeks.

This summer, the state’s DOT, its motor vehicle department, and others may designate a road corridor for testing vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications, says Green.

OLD DOMINION STAYS NEW

In Virginia, the House and Senate have approved a proposal from Del. Davis that legalizes monitors showing live images in a vehicle when the vehicle is being operated autonomously.

The bill’s language is convoluted but it was necessary to override an existing law that fought distracted driving, said Davis.  

“We needed to address this. This is a first step. We need to make sure the laws are safe both for standard mode (vehicles) and autonomous vehicles,” said Davis.

The proposal now goes to Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe for his signature. McAuliffe last year launched Virginia Automated Corridors, a state initiative on the research and development of automated vehicles.  

Davis also proposed a bill that would define autonomous vehicles but it got bottled up in committee and will probably expire when the state’s legislative session ends in March.

He might reintroduce the proposal next year, expanding it to include a definition of automated-vehicle technology, like lane assist and cruise control, along with that of autonomous vehicles.

That combination of familiar technology with cutting-edge driverless could sway more legislators to vote for the bill, says Davis.

“New vehicles are bringing this combination of automated technology and driver control,” said Davis. “Once people are comfortable with (lane assist), you will see more acceptance of (autonomous).”

While the states move slowly, the U.S. Department of Transportation is setting the pace on federal policy.

Its National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) division will release this summer a policy foundation for autonomous vehicles. This will include a definition of the vehicles, testing policies, and guidance on their deployment and operation.

NHTSA will also release a model driverless car policy for the states.

The feds just may overtake the states on this one.

Graphic by brisray.com.

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Autonomous Vehicle-Testing Dollars Entice States

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Burney Simpson

States are lining up for their share of driverless vehicle research dollars but each has its own approach to getting at the sizzling bacon of business bucks.

In Tennessee, State Sen. Mark Green has introduced legislation that will allow testing of Level 4 autonomous vehicles in the state. Level 4 vehicles can operate without any human intervention.

The Clarksville Republican believes testing will lead auto OEMs to consider manufacturing the vehicles in the state. Green emphasized the economic benefits of the technology in an interview with The Leaf-Chronicle.

“Because these companies that are going to manufacture them, and create all those jobs, are going to go where they can test their vehicles,” said Green.

California, Florida, Michigan, Nevada and the District of Columbia have enacted legislation making it legal to test autonomous vehicles. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe last year proclaimed the state would allow the testing.

Green’s bill, SB 1561, is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Transportation Committee on Monday, February 1. A similar bill, HB 1564, has been introduced in the Tennessee House by Rep. Mike Carter, an Ooltewah Republican.

Green’s proposal would require a human operator for any autonomous vehicle being tested, and impose a use tax of one cent per mile for an autonomous vehicle with two axles, and 2.6 cents a mile for those with more than two axles.

MASSACHUSETTS MEETS

In Massachusetts, several agencies and large cities are working to make self-driving vehicles legal and ensure the state becomes a research center on the technology.

Toyota has already invested $50 million in a research facility it will operate with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Meanwhile, Boston is seeking $50 million from the US DOT to integrate self-driving vehicles in its borders, and the city of Somerville has partnered with Audi to test self-parking cars.

On February 9 the state’s Department of Transportation and the Office of Housing and Economic Development are scheduled to meet with Google, Tesla, MIT, Toyota, Audi, and Uber, to discuss opportunities for self-driving vehicles, according to the Boston Herald.

MARYLAND MEANDERS

Maryland appears to be less ambitious. It is scheduled to consider matching bills in its state House and Senate that call for $50,000 annually to fund a task force that will study the issue of self-driving vehicles.

The task force would work this year and next, and report its findings by 2018, for a total cost of $100,000.

In the House, Del. Pamela Beidle introduced HB 8, and Sen. Andrew Serafini introduced SB 126. Beidle’s proposal was scheduled to be heard today, and the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee is to consider SB 126 next Tuesday.

The problem here is that the same two legislators proposed similar bills last year, but called for $100,000 per year in funding. Beidle’s proposal sailed through the House but the Senate shot down Serafini’s measure.

Photo of Bacon by Martin Cathrae, 2008.

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States Get to Second Gear on Autonomous Driving Proposals

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Burney Simpson

Autonomous and driverless technology proponents should check out a handy guide from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) on recent legislative proposals at the state level that address the technology.

Sixteen states introduced legislation touching on autonomous vehicles in 2015, according to the NCSL, up from 12 in 2014, and six in 2012.

Only two bills passed in 2015, but nine were carried over, meaning they could be heard in their state’s next legislative session.

Actually, a little more progress occurred. The NCSL notes that Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe in June announced the state would be expanding its Virginia Automated Corridors for driverless testing. (See “Va Tech Leaves ‘Em Eating Its Dust in Race to be Top Driverless Test Track,” June 7, 2015). And Utah passed a bill calling for the testing of connected vehicle technology this year.

States can be slow in enacting anything new; legislation often fails once, twice or three times before making it through both the senate and the house chambers, and getting signed by the governor.

The NCSL guide also provides a one-paragraph description of the proposed legislation so you get a sense of the state’s approach without asking a translator to cut through the legalese.

In addition to the legislative list, a US map shows the six states and District of Columbia that have enacted autonomous vehicle legislation. North Dakota and Tennessee this year passed the legislation, joining California, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, and DC, in the cool car club.

The NCSL guide joins the Stanford University Center for Internet and Society pages on Automated Driving and Legislative Action that tracks this topic at the state level.

Why should the autonomous driving industry care what’s going on in individual states?

For one, because that’s where the work is being done. Hundreds of companies and thousands of researchers are working on driverless technology all across the U.S., and the rules and regulations in their state impact their work.

Second, the federal government has problems passing much of anything. The U.S. Congress has been kicking the Department of Transportation budget down the road this year, and 2016 is an election so it will probably get even worse.

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has been a strong voice for autonomous technology. And the US DOT recently awarded $42 million to three connected vehicle projects in Florida, New York, and Wyoming.

But Foxx can only do so much while Congress battles itself. Until that gets solved, check out the action at the state level.

Map graphic by NCSL.