BILL REQ. #:  H-0240.4 

Read first time 02/04/13.   Referred to Committee on Transportation.

     AN ACT Relating to promoting innovation in the transportation sector while ensuring safety by encouraging development of autonomous vehicles; adding a new section to chapter 46.04 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 46 RCW; and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the state does not prohibit or specifically regulate the testing or operation of autonomous technology in motor vehicles on public roads. It is the intent of the legislature to encourage the safe development, testing, and operation of motor vehicles with autonomous technology on the public roads of the state.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 46.04 RCW to read as follows:
     "Autonomous technology" means technology installed on a motor vehicle that renders it capable to drive without the active control of or monitoring by a human operator. "Autonomous technology" excludes active safety systems or driver assistance systems including, without limitation, a system to provide electronic blind spot assistance, crash avoidance, emergency braking, parking assistance, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assistance, lane departure warning, or traffic jam and queuing assistance, unless any system alone or in combination with other systems enables the vehicle on which the technology is installed to drive without the active control of or monitoring by a human operator.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) For testing purposes, a person must possess a valid driver's license to operate a vehicle controlled by autonomous technology in autonomous mode, unless such testing occurs entirely on a closed course.
     (2) For purposes of this chapter, a person is deemed the operator of a vehicle controlled by autonomous technology in autonomous mode when the person causes the autonomous technology to engage, regardless of whether the person is physically present in the vehicle while the vehicle is operating in autonomous mode.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   (1) A vehicle controlled by 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.
     (2) For testing purposes, a human operator must be present in a vehicle controlled by autonomous technology such that he or she has the ability to monitor the vehicle's performance and intervene, if necessary, unless the vehicle is being tested or demonstrated on a closed course.
     (3) Prior to the start of testing, the entity performing the testing must submit to the department proof of insurance or surety bond acceptable to the department in the amount of five million dollars.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   (1) A vehicle controlled by autonomous technology must continue to meet federal standards and regulations for a motor vehicle. The vehicle must:
     (a) Have a means to engage and disengage the autonomous technology that is easily accessible to the operator;
     (b) Have a means, inside the vehicle, to visually indicate when the motor vehicle is operating in autonomous mode;
     (c) Have a means to alert the operator of the vehicle if a technology failure affecting the ability of the vehicle to safely operate autonomously is detected while the vehicle is operating autonomously in order to indicate to the operator to take control of the vehicle; and
     (d) Be capable of being operated in compliance with applicable traffic and motor vehicle laws of this state.
     (2) Federal regulations promulgated by the national highway safety administration supersede this section if found to be in conflict with this section.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   (1) The department shall review statutes and rules regarding autonomous vehicles and report to the transportation committees of the legislature and the governor on June 30, 2026, with recommendations on how to update and improve the statutes and rules.
     (2) The department, in consultation with the department of transportation and the Washington state patrol, shall provide written notice to the legislature when large scale production and retail sale of vehicles controlled by autonomous technology appears imminent. This notice must include recommendations for the operation of such vehicles by the general public.
     (3) This section expires June 30, 2027.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   A person may not operate a vehicle controlled by autonomous technology except as provided in this chapter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 8   Sections 1 and 3 through 7 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 46 RCW.