Implications of Connected and Automated Driving Systems, Vol. 4: Autonomous Vehicle Action Plan (2018)

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NCHRP 20-102(07) Autonomous Vehicle Action Plan – A Roadmap for States 56 The Road Forward 7.1 Next Steps This AVAP draws attention to potential legal and regulatory areas that will require modification and/or clarification as C/ADSs are deployed in all domains by providing: • A framework for completing an in-depth state legal audit. • Prioritized areas of law determined to merit the most attention in the short-, mid-, and long-terms as C/ADSs in all domains are deployed. • An overview of potential barriers to legislative and regulatory modification. • Recommendations for overcoming these barriers via tasks forces and legislative outreach. The eventual deployment of C/ADSs will require a regulatory structure that will work across state lines. In some cases, this will require that states work together to harmonize their motor vehicle codes in advance to enable the operation of this new technology as it develops. Addressing these recommended modifications and harmonization needs will take coordination with state legislatures, sister state agencies, and a close alliance with industry. States are encouraged to use the priorities outlined in this AVAP to put a strategic framework in place to assess, engage, and act as they consider modifications to state motor vehicle codes. Further, the role of AAMVA and AASHTO in this effort cannot be overemphasized. AAMVA’s expert staff and its Vehicle Standing Committee, Automated Vehicles Best Practices Working Group, and Law Enforcement Standing Committee—consisting of DMV and law enforcement practitioners on the front lines—are valuable resources, and AAMVA continues to be a leader in the area of C/ADS deployment. Similarly, AASHTO staff is a valuable resource for DOT administrators. The prioritization and harmonization summary tables presented in Chapter 3 illustrate that 2018–2020 is an important timeframe for states to begin legislation and regulation changes (Table 3-1, Table 3-2, Table 3-3). States can choose to make these modifications earlier, but should also closely monitor the marketplace and any federal oversight direction. Just as importantly, any modifications suggested should be in a form that allows for flexible updating and ease of change.