SELF DRIVE Act

Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research In Vehicle Evolution Act or the SELF DRIVE Act

This bill establishes the federal role in ensuring the safety of highly automated vehicles by encouraging the testing and deployment of such vehicles. A highly automated vehicle is a motor vehicle, other than a commercial motor vehicle, that is equipped with an automated driving system capable of performing the entire dynamic driving task on a sustained basis.

The bill preempts states from enacting laws regarding the design, construction, or performance of highly automated vehicles or automated driving systems unless such laws enact standards identical to federal standards.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) must require safety assessment certifications for the development of a highly automated vehicle or an automated driving system.

Manufacturers of highly automated vehicles must develop written cybersecurity and privacy plans for such vehicles prior to offering them for sale.

The bill applies certain safety exemptions and testing standards to highly automated vehicles.

DOT must (1) inform prospective buyers of highly automated vehicles of the capabilities and limitations of such vehicles; (2) establish the Highly Automated Vehicle Advisory Council to, among other things, develop guidance regarding mobility access for the disabled, elderly, and underserved populations; (3) require all new passenger motor vehicles less than 10,000 pounds to be equipped with a rear seat occupant alert system; and (4) research updated safety standards for motor vehicle headlamps.

The SELF DRIVE Act, also known as Bill 117 hr 3711, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress that aims to regulate the development and deployment of self-driving vehicles. The bill seeks to establish a framework for the testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles on public roads, with the goal of promoting innovation and ensuring the safety of both passengers and pedestrians.

Key provisions of the SELF DRIVE Act include requirements for manufacturers to submit safety assessments to the Department of Transportation, as well as guidelines for data collection and sharing related to autonomous vehicle technology. The bill also addresses issues such as cybersecurity, privacy, and consumer education, in order to address concerns about the potential risks and benefits of self-driving cars.

Overall, the SELF DRIVE Act represents a bipartisan effort to address the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapid advancement of autonomous vehicle technology. By establishing clear guidelines and regulations for the development and deployment of self-driving cars, the bill aims to promote innovation while ensuring the safety and well-being of all road users.