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REFERENCE TITLE: autonomous motor vehicles |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-first Legislature First Regular Session 2013
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HB 2167 |
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Introduced by Representatives Dial, Forese, Senator Worsley: Representatives Fann, Robson, Senator McComish
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AN ACT
amending title 28, chapter 3, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding article 22; relating to autonomous motor vehicles.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 28, chapter 3, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding article 22, to read:
ARTICLE 22. AUTONOMOUS MOTOR VEHICLES
28-1231. Definitions
In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Autonomous motor vehicle" means any motor vehicle that is equipped with autonomous technology.
2. "Autonomous technology":
(a) Means technology that is installed on a motor vehicle and that has the capability to drive the motor vehicle without active control or monitoring by a human operator.
(b) Does not include a motor vehicle that is enabled with active safety systems or driver assistance systems, including a system to provide electronic blind spot assistance, crash avoidance, emergency braking, parking assistance, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assistance, lane departure warning, traffic jam and queuing assistance or other active safety or driver assistance systems, unless any system alone or in combination with other systems enables the motor vehicle to drive without active control or monitoring by a human operator.
28-1232. Autonomous motor vehicles; operation
A. A person who possesses a valid driver license may operate an autonomous motor vehicle in autonomous mode.
B. Unless the context otherwise requires, a person is deemed to be the operator of an autonomous motor vehicle operating in autonomous mode if the person engages the motor vehicle's autonomous technology, regardless of whether the person is physically present in the motor vehicle while the motor vehicle is operating in autonomous mode.
28-1233. Autonomous motor vehicles; requirements
A. An autonomous motor vehicle registered in this state must continue to meet federal standards and regulations for a motor vehicle. An autonomous motor vehicle shall:
1. Have a means to engage and disengage the autonomous technology that is easily accessible to the operator.
2. Have a means, inside the motor vehicle, to visually indicate when the motor vehicle is operating in autonomous mode.
3. Have a means to alert the operator of the motor vehicle if a technology failure affecting the ability of the motor vehicle to safely operate autonomously is detected while the motor vehicle is operating autonomously in order to indicate to the operator to take control of the motor vehicle.
4. Be capable of being operated in compliance with the applicable traffic and motor vehicle laws of this title.
B. Federal regulations adopted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shall supersede this section if found to be in conflict with this section.
28-1234. Testing; liability
A. Motor vehicles that are equipped with autonomous technology may be operated on roads in this state by employees, contractors or other persons designated by manufacturers of autonomous technology for the purpose of testing the technology. For testing purposes, unless the vehicle is being tested or demonstrated on a closed course, a human operator shall be present in the autonomous motor vehicle so that the human operator has the ability to monitor the motor vehicle's performance and intervene, if necessary. Before the start of testing in this state, the entity performing the testing must submit to the Department an instrument of insurance, a surety bond or proof of self-insurance acceptable to the department in the amount of five million dollars.
B. If a third party converts a motor vehicle into an autonomous motor vehicle, The original manufacturer of that motor vehicle shall not be liable in and shall have a defense to and be dismissed from any legal action brought against the original manufacturer by any person who is injured due to an alleged motor vehicle defect caused by the conversion of the motor vehicle or by equipment installed by the converter, unless the alleged defect was present in the motor vehicle as originally manufactured.
Sec. 2. Department of transportation; report
By April 1, 2015, the department of transportation shall submit a report to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives recommending additional legislative or regulatory action that may be required for the safe testing and operation of motor vehicles equipped with autonomous technology as defined in section 28-1231, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act.