New Jersey’s autonomous vehicle pilot program’s tech requirements would exclude Tesla
A New Jersey bill, and its companion, which would set up an autonomous vehicle pilot program in the state would require driverless robotaxis to use technology that excludes Tesla from operating.
SB1677 and AB3968 are both waiting for review in Senate and Assembly committees.
The bills would set up a three-year pilot program that would allow autonomous vehicle testers to operate in the state, including testbeds and open-road testbeds.
One requirement of the program is that robotaxis have cameras and two distinct sensing modalities that are capable of detecting and tracking obstacles in the event of camera system failure.
Multiple media outlets report that Tesla’s current hardware stack only has a camera and no sensors.
The law also requires the vehicles complete a minimum of 50,000 miles on public roadways without a major incident with a human located in the driver’s seat before a vehicle can go fully autonomous.
Testers also are required to submit proof of liability insurance, self-insurance, or a surety bond of at least $5 million for damages by reason of bodily injury, death, or property damage.
Autonomous vehicle testers are also required to report a crash involving any of its fully autonomous vehicles no later than five calendar days after receiving notice of a crash, if it occurred on public roads and if someone was killed, transported to the hospital, a pedestrian was involved, or an airbag deployed.
Notice of the crash must be received in less than 10 days for all other crashes.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently issued a public call to action to automated vehicle developers regarding what it calls a pattern of interference with first responders.
A letter from Jonathan Morrison, NHTSA administrator, says the government agency recognizes and supports the potential of AV technology to reduce human error and improve safety.
“We have backed up that belief with action: launching a major AV Framework, leveling the playing field so American innovators are not subject to stricter rules than foreign competitors, slashing redundant red tape, and hosting the agency’s first ever AV summit,” the letter states. “As exciting as these innovations are, our fundamental responsibility remains ensuring the safety of the driving public. Under Secretary Duffy’s leadership, this Goldilocks approach – removing roadblocks to technological change while staying laser focused on safety – will enable America to lead the way in this automated revolution.”
Yet, the letter notes what it calls a “disturbing trend” over recent months. It adds NHTSA has identified a “clear pattern of driverless AVs interfering with law enforcement and first responders.”
“The agency has documented multiple instances in which AVs drove directly into active emergency scenes, blocked the paths of ambulances and firefighters, or failed to recognize and respond to basic safety conditions like flashing lights, flares, smoke, fire, and traffic cones,” the letter states. “This is unacceptable. To state it bluntly: an AV that cannot safely interact with first responders is a danger to the general public.”
Humans who impede emergency operations are subject to fines and even jail time, the letter states.
“So, when an AV disrupts first responders or impedes an emergency vehicle, it ceases to be a minor software anomaly,” the letter states. ‘The technology driving alongside them must support their efforts and get out of the way, not disrupt their life saving mission or compound the dangers they face. Let me be clear: the inability to detect and appropriately respond to such situations represents a functional insufficiency. Emergency scenes are not rare or extreme ‘edge cases.’ As such, NHTSA is today issuing a call to action for AV developers and operators to immediately focus their resources on fixing this issue.”
The letter states NHTSA expects developers to prioritize first responder interactions. It adds that NHTSA will schedule meetings with developers by the end of the month.
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Tesla cybercab photo courtesy of Tesla