Bill Text: HI SB630 | 2015 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii Senate Bill 630 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Motor Vehicles; Autonomous Technology

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-17 - The committee on TRA deferred the measure. [SB630 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2015-SB630-Introduced.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	630
TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that autonomous technology, commonly known as driverless vehicles, is fast developing nationwide and Hawaii should be at the forefront in passing legislation to allow the use of driverless vehicles. As of 2013, four states have passed laws permitting autonomous cars: California, Florida, Michigan, and Nevada.

In 2012, Florida enacted an autonomous technology measure to encourage the safe development, testing, and operation of motor vehicles with autonomous technology on its public roads. Florida does not prohibit or specifically regulate the testing or operation of autonomous technology in motor vehicles on public roads.

In addition, on December 22, 2014, Google Inc., unveiled a prototype of a fully functional self-driving car. Google plans to bring driverless cars to market after testing in the Bay Area in 2015. Google predicted two years ago that self-driving cars would be ready for public use by 2017.

The purpose of this Act is to allow for the safe development, testing, and operation of motor vehicles with autonomous technology on the public roads of the State.

SECTION 2. Chapter 286, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"Part . Autonomous motor vehicles

§286- Definitions. As used in this part:

"Autonomous motor vehicle" means any motor vehicle, as defined in section 291C-1, that is equipped with autonomous technology.

"Autonomous technology" means technology installed on a motor vehicle that has the capability to drive the vehicle on which the technology is installed without the active control or monitoring by a human operator. The term excludes a motor vehicle enabled with active safety systems or driver assistance systems, including 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 assistant, unless any such system alone or in combination with other systems enables the vehicle on which the technology is installed to drive without the active control or monitoring by a human operator.

§286- Autonomous motor vehicles; operation. (a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, beginning , a person who possesses a valid Hawaii driver license may operate an autonomous motor vehicle that employs autonomous technology on any highway, roadway, or street, as those terms are defined in section 291C-1.

(b) A person shall be deemed to be the operator of an autonomous motor vehicle operating in autonomous mode when the person causes the motor vehicle's autonomous technology to engage, regardless of whether the person is physically present in the motor vehicle while the vehicle is operating in autonomous mode.

§286- Autonomous motor vehicle safety requirements. (a) An autonomous motor vehicle that is allowed to be operated in this State shall, at a minimum, comply with the following requirements:

(1) Have a current official certificate of inspection under section 286-25 and be certified with a certificate of inspection under section 286-26; provided that the department of transportation shall adopt rules for purposes of this paragraph;

(2) Meet federal standards and regulations for a motor vehicle;

(3) Have a means to engage and disengage the autonomous technology which is easily accessible to the operator;

(4) Have a means, inside the vehicle, to visually indicate when the motor vehicle is operating in autonomous mode;

(5) Have a means to alert the operator of the motor 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 motor vehicle; and

(6) Be capable of being operated in compliance with the applicable traffic and motor vehicle laws of this State and the county in which the autonomous vehicle operates;

(b) Federal regulations for motor vehicles and traffic safety adopted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shall supersede this section when found to be in conflict with this section.

§286- Road testing of autonomous motor vehicles. (a) Motor vehicles equipped with autonomous technology may be operated on a highway, roadway, and street, as those terms are defined in section 291C-1, by employees, contractors, or other persons designated by manufacturers of autonomous technology for the purpose of testing the technology; provided that for testing purposes, a human operator shall be present in the autonomous vehicle to monitor the vehicle's performance and intervene, if necessary, unless the motor vehicle is being tested or demonstrated on a closed course.

(b) Prior to the start of testing in this State, the entity performing the testing must submit to the director an instrument of insurance, surety bond, or proof of self-insurance acceptable to the director in the amount of $5,000,000."

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Motor Vehicles; Autonomous Technology

Description:

Allows a person who possesses a valid Hawaii driver license to operate an autonomous motor vehicle that employs autonomous technology. Defines autonomous vehicle. Defines autonomous technology. Requires certain safety features. Specifies certain conditions for safety testing.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.