On November 29, 2013, the California DMV issued its proposed Autonomous Vehicle (AV) regulation which, in accordance with the legislation that mandated the regulation (Senate Bill 1298 (Chapter 570; Statutes 2012), must be finalized by January 1, 2015. Key requirements include:
- AVs may only be operated on CA roads if the AV manufacturer obtains a testing permit from the CA DMV.
- The AV manufacturer must assume financial responsibility (this can be satisfied by submitting a $5 million bond).
- AVs may only be operated by a certified test driver.
- Certified test drivers must go through an AV test driver training program run by the manufacturer.
- AV manufacturers must submit to the CA DMC an AV test driver training program.
- All AVs and test drivers must be registered with the CA DMV.
- AVs must carry the registration documents required by the regulation.
- AV manufacturers must maintain a log of every time an AV disengages from autonomous mode for safety reasons.
- AV manufacturers must maintain a log of every AV accident.
- AVs used for testing purposes may not be sold once the test program is over except under limited circumstances.
- AVs may not be vehicles 10,001 lbs GVW or more.
Written comments on the proposed regulation must be submitted no later than 5 pm (PST) on January 13, 2014. A public hearing will be held starting at 10 am on January 14, 2014 at the CA DMV’s headquarters office at 2415 First Avenue, Sacramento, CA.
As proposed, the requirements contained in the regulation would go into effect 120 days after the date on which the regulation is adopted by the department.
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