2016 -- S 2514

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LC004877

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL CODE

PROVISIONS

     Introduced By: Senators Miller, DiPalma, Walaska, Felag, and Jabour

     Date Introduced: February 25, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 31-1 of the General Laws entitled "Definitions and General Code

Provisions" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     31-1-3.1. Autonomous vehicles permitted. – (a) For purposes of this section, the

following words shall, unless the context requires otherwise, have the following meaning:

     (1) "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, 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 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.

     (2) "Autonomous vehicle" means any vehicle equipped with autonomous technology.

     (b) A person who possesses a valid driver's license may operate an autonomous vehicle in

autonomous mode. For purposes of this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, a person

shall be deemed to be the operator of an autonomous vehicle operating in autonomous mode

when the person causes the vehicle's autonomous technology to engage, regardless of whether the

person is physically present in the vehicle while the vehicle is operating in autonomous mode.

     (c) An autonomous vehicle registered in this state must continue to meet federal

standards and regulations for a motor vehicle. The vehicle shall:

     (1) Have a means to engage and disengage the autonomous technology which is easily

accessible to the operator;

     (2) Have a means inside the vehicle, to visually indicate when the vehicle is operating in

autonomous mode;

     (3) 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

     (4) Be capable of being operated in compliance with the applicable traffic and motor

vehicle laws of this state.

     (d) Federal regulations promulgated by the National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration shall supersede this section when found to be in conflict with this section.

     (e)(1) Vehicles equipped with 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. For testing purposes, a human operator shall

be present in the autonomous vehicle such that they have the ability to monitor the vehicle's

performance and intervene, if necessary, unless the vehicle is being tested or demonstrated on a

closed course. Prior to the start of testing in this state, the entity performing the testing must

submit to the division of motor vehicles an instrument of insurance, surety bond, or proof of self-

insurance acceptable to the department in the amount of five million dollars ($5,000,000).

     (2) The original manufacturer of a vehicle converted by a third party into an autonomous

vehicle shall not be liable in, and shall have a defense to and be dismissed from, any legal action

brought against the original manufacturer by any person injured due to an alleged vehicle defect

caused by the conversion of the vehicle, or by equipment installed by the converter, unless the

alleged defect was present in the vehicle as originally manufactured.

     (3) By February 1, 2018, the division of motor vehicles, in consultation with the division

of public safety, shall submit a report to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house

of representatives recommending additional legislative or regulatory action that may be required

for the safe testing and operation of motor vehicles equipped with autonomous technology.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES - DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL CODE

PROVISIONS

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     This act would permit the use of vehicles equipped with autonomous technology on

Rhode Island roads.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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