California will start issuing 'notices of AV noncompliance' to autonomous vehicle manufacturers when their vehicles violate traffic laws, according to multiple reports. This change comes into effect on July 1 and is part of a slew of statewide regulations based on Assembly Bill 1777.
Key Takeaways
California will begin issuing 'notices of AV noncompliance' to autonomous vehicle manufacturers when their vehicles violate traffic laws starting July 1. This follows several incidents involving Waymo robotaxis, including illegal turns and failing to stop for school buses. The new regulations aim to address the gap in enforcing traffic violations against driverless cars.
The new rules allow law enforcement agencies to issue these notices to companies like Waymo when their driverless cars commit moving violations. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced the changes, stating that manufacturers are responsible for correcting any issues identified in these notices per Los Angeles Times. If a manufacturer is unable to correct repeated noncompliance, the DMV may take administrative action, including restricting or suspending their operating permit.
The move follows several high-profile incidents involving Waymo robotaxis. In San Bruno, a Waymo vehicle made an illegal U-turn in front of police officers as reported by Los Angeles Times. Other incidents include a Waymo failing to stop for a school bus in Atlanta and striking a child in Santa Monica. These events highlighted the challenges law enforcement faces when dealing with driverless cars.
The regulations also require autonomous vehicle companies to respond to calls from police, firefighters, and other emergency officials within 30 seconds according to CBS News. State Sen. Dave Cortese introduced Senate Bill 1246, which would add more oversight by limiting the number of vehicles one remote operator can monitor at a time.
The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association praised the broader DMV regulations, stating they ensure California will continue to benefit from autonomous technology through safer roads and enhanced accessibility per CBS News. The new rules also allow manufacturers to apply for permits to test and deploy heavy-duty autonomous vehicle technology on California roads as reported by Reuters.
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