Implications of Automation for Motor Vehicle Codes

Existing motor vehicle codes have been developed based on implicit assumptions about drivers maintaining continuous involvement in the driving task and continuous responsibility for managing traffic safety hazards. Automated driving systems significantly reduce the role of the driver, which means that some of these codes will need to be reconsidered. The incorporation of driving behavior into in-vehicle software also generates pressure to harmonize the rules of the road across jurisdictions. The objective of this research was to provide state departments of transportation (DOTs) and motor vehicle departments with guidance and resources to assist with the legal changes that will result from the roll out of connected and automated vehicles. This research does the following: (1) Provides a review applicable existing laws and regulations that may need reconsideration as connected vehicles (CV) and connected and automated vehicles (AV) become more widely used with a focus on how these codes need to be revised (and how soon). (2) Expected changes to motor vehicle laws, regulations, and statutes related to CV and AV may affect current driving practices and continuous responsibility for managing traffic safety hazards. (3) Identifies barriers to implementation of new Rules of the Road resulting from the roll out of CV and AV and develop strategies to overcome them. (4) Addresses processes and stages for modifying relevant motor vehicle code, laws, regulations, and statutes.

• Record URL:
  http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=4006
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This work was coordinated with related efforts underway by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA).

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $350000
• Contract Numbers:

  20-102(07)

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Performing Organizations:

  Virginia Polytechnic Institute

  ,    
• Principal Investigators:

  Blanco, Myra

• Start Date: 20161114
• Expected Completion Date: 20180213
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Autonomous vehicles; Connected vehicles; Laws; Regulations; Traffic safety
• Subject Areas: Highways; Law; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01781471
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: 20-102(07)
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Sep 9 2021 10:06AM