Bill to Create Framework for Autonomous Vehicle Testing in the District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 2, 2019

Communications Director: Kelly Whittier

Bill to Create Framework for Autonomous Vehicle Testing in the District

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, April 2^nd, Councilmember Mary M. Cheh (D-Ward 3) along with Chairman Mendelson and Councilmember Allen introduced the “Autonomous Vehicles Testing Program Amendment Act of 2019.” This legislation will create a process for the testing of autonomous vehicles (also known as self-driving cars) in the District of Columbia.

“In 2013, we anticipated the advancement of autonomous vehicle technology and passed one of the first laws in the country to regulate their operation on our local streets. Today, the technology has outpaced our existing framework and we need to keep pace with those changes to ensure that all roadway users, including bicyclists and pedestrians, are safe and protected,” said Councilmember Cheh.

This legislation will make several changes to autonomous vehicle testing operations in the District, including:

1. The creation of an autonomous vehicle testing permit process at the District Department of Transportation (DDOT). Testing companies will be required to report the location(s) and duration of vehicle testing; vehicle information; insurance information; and provide a safety and risk mitigation plan.
2. Requiring testing companies to certify under penalty of perjury that its vehicles comply with federal motor vehicle safety regulations; that the vehicles are capable of operating within the parameters of the testing program; that the testing company will provide certain data to the District; that the company has implemented a plan to mitigate cybersecurity risks; that the company has a safety operator training program in place; and that all vehicle operators have completed the training.   
3. Giving authority to DDOT to suspend or revoke permits for good cause, including that a company made materially false statements in its application, that an accident has occurred that results in serious bodily injury or death, or that the autonomous driving system used by the company is the subject of an active National Traffic Safety Board investigation.
4. Requiring testing companies to notify and turn over vehicle senor data to DDOT and law enforcement should an accident occur.           

“This legislation strikes a balance between ensuring the greatest degree of safety for our residents and giving innovative companies the ability to test their new technologies in the District. These are common-sense reforms and I’m eager to see these vehicles –and the benefits they bring– operating in the District,” said Cheh.